The Green Goldfish Project is an attempt to crowdsource 1,001 examples of marketing lagniappe for employees. Signature little extras that make a big difference. Companies that put “employees first” through actions, not just words. For every 50 examples collected there is a Top 10 list created.
[Bonus: In honor of ‘Back to School’, I’m giving away free copies of the book “What’s Your Purple Goldfish?” between 9/5 – 9/9. Click here on Amazon to get a copy. Feel free to tell a friend or 3,000]
Without further adieu, here is the third list from the Project from Examples 101-150:
10. All things are created equal here @Ernst_and_Young
#114 – Ernst & Young
Courtesy of a post by Denene Brox on salary.com:
http://www.salary.com/14-companies-with-incredible-employee-perks
The London based global tax advisory service, offers the same benefits for same-sex partners as for opposite-sex partners — even in states that don’t recognize gay marriage.
YouTube video from Ernst & Young as part of the “it Gets Better” Project:
9. Free beer . . . hits the spot @Hubspot
#135 – HubSpot
Taken from a post by boston.com:
It’s the tasty perk everyone wants, but few provide: Free beer. And in the office, yet.
Cold brew is always on tap at HubSpot Inc.’s headquarters in Cambridge, where the kitchen has a designated beer fridge stocked with at least 50 different brands. “We have Stella, Beck’s, Guinness, Bud Light,” said Kara Sassone, the company’s media relations specialist, as she rattles off the more popular labels.
A cold one helps to encourage employees to hang out at the office and build better working relationships, the company says. Free or not, beer — as with all good things — is best in moderation, especially at the office.
Even so, it’s a popular perk. “I’m sure if we were to get rid of the beer fridge here at HubSpot, the whole company would be up in arms,” blogged one employee.
YouTube video. A walking tour of Hubspot’s offices featuring the beer fridge at 3:36
8. Don’t pass the Buck-eye. Making the time for education at Smucker’s
#102 – J.M. Smucker
Free Tuition
For employees who have the time, there’s no excuse not to get that second degree. The PB&J company will reimburse employees 100% of tuition costs (and there’s no limit on the price tag). Ohio State University is only 20 minutes from the company’s Orrville, Ohio headquarters.
7. A fiver right out of the shoot @KPMG
#125 – KPMG
Right out of the gate, 5 weeks off in year one of employment.
Full post here: http://www.thecareerrevolution.com/2008/03/most-unusual-company-perksscuba-diving.html
6. More than lip service for supporting the environment @ClifBar
#106 – Clif Bar
Taken from a post by ABC news:
Environmental issues are very important to the company. Clif Bar gives their employees $6,500 toward the purchase of a fuel efficient vehicle and $1,000 to do an energy upgrade on their home.
Clif Bar enjoys a retention rate of 96 percent.
YouTube video about the offices and sustainability:
5. A trip of a lifetime . . . anywhere you choose from @IDGWorld
#134 – International Data Group
Taken from a post on boston.com:
The tradition was to reward loyal employees with a gold watch to mark their years of service. International Data Group has a better idea – a vacation, and not just any vacation. In return for long service, IDG gives employees a paid trip to anywhere.
Once employees reach 20 years at the research company, they are eligible to receive a travel award to a location of their choice. The award is a fixed amount meant to cover everything; family and friends are welcome.
Employees can create their own customized “trip of a lifetime,” said Howard Sholkin, director of communications and marketing programs at the company, which has 743 employees in Massachusetts, mostly in Framingham.
In the past two years, about 45 employees have taken advantage of the benefit. The destinations include Australia, Belize, Italy, Cape Verde, and New Zealand, to name a few.
4. New meaning to the 5 p.m. whistle @MillerCoors
#129 – MillerCoors
Taken from post over at PostNoon:
MillerCoors employees are encouraged to test the company products after hours. The on-site pubs in Chicago and Milwaukee offer 13 varieties of beer — for free.
YouTube video. Cool timelapse of a visiit to MillerCoors in Chicago:
3. Newborns welcome at Schools Financial Credit Union
#103 – Schools Financial Credit Union
Taken from a blog by Quality Logo Products:
This credit union allows any of its employees to bring their newborns to work until the children are six months old. According to the vice president of marketing at the company, the babies cause little distraction, and since the parents can continue performing most of their work duties, the company doesn’t have to hire temps or train new people.
2. This benefit gets a pass @burtonsnowboard
#141 – Burton
Free season pass on the slopes for all employees and for lagniappe . . . if it snows 2 feet or more, the office is closed for employees to go snowboarding.
YouTube video on the culture and passion at Burton:
and the #1 example from the third Top Ten List:
1. Shhh…Clark Kent would love this little extra @PARTNERSsimons
#131 – Partners + Simons
Taken from a post at boston.com:
No one in this agency has to leave the office to make a private phone call. Instead, they slip inside one of two large, soundproof tubes in the company’s coffee and kitchen area where they can chat away.
The South Boston ad agency has two cellphone booths that look like something out of the transporter room from “Star Trek.”
Trudy Almquist, chief financial officer at the agency, said that employees were regularly using conference and meetings room for private calls to their spouses or their children’s schools.
“Conference room time was at a premium, and this was a better option,” she said. “It’s just a place to talk to your doctor, adoption agent, your spouse, or whatever you have going on in your life. It’s to have a little privacy in a public place.”
Today’s Lagniappe (a little something extra for good measure) – A couple interesting extras from AOL and uber:
Nice benefit, I think I’ll sleep on it @AOL
#126 – AOL
Taken from a post by EG Managed Services:
At AOL headquarters in NYC, perks include access to NapQuest, a specialized room where employees can grab some winks in “nap pods”, and relax in one of many electronic massage chairs.
YouTube video: Arianna Huffington talks about the importance of sleep:
A little pick-me-up for those working @uber
#150 – Uber
It’s near-impossible to find a cab in San Francisco, and the bus system makes it even more difficult to get around.
If this is really upsetting to you, you might consider working at a company like Uber, which offers you free car service with its application.
You basically fire it up and tap a few buttons, and a car will come to your exact location and take you where you want to go.
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-perks-in-tech-2012-7?op=1#ixzz23WIlMlg9
