There are office perks that would be nice to have - and then there are office perks that can make or break your job search. Certain perks are crucial to ensure the job fits your needs and is a place you can see yourself being happy at.
If your job has zero perks and makes you feel like you aren't important, it's probably not somewhere you're going to want to stay. That fancy ice cream bar at lunch or on-site basketball court for break time is going to lose its charm. Here are the five office perks that really matter:
Career advancement opportunities contribute greatly to employee happiness. It's hard to be in a dead-end job that makes you feel like you're going nowhere. If there are no incentives to continue working hard and being the best you can be, it's difficult to stay motivated.
Look for a place that offers you a chance to move up in the company, or at least one that gives raises. It shows that the employer cares about their workers and wants to give them chances to be motivated and succeed.
Vacation is absolutely necessary for workers to continue being as productive as possible. Taking regular vacations lowers your risk of heart attacks, heightens reaction times when you come back from vacation and helps reduce your overall stress levels.
Americans seem to think they have to work all the time and not take vacations. They fear losing their chance at promotions or other opportunities for advancement. However, the benefits you get from taking a vacation will help you work harder when you come back.
Make sure you find a place that provides adequate vacation time - it's another thing that shows the employer cares about their workers and their health.
In addition to vacation time, other benefits can be a big factor in your decision. If you have or are planning to start a family, health insurance is going to be something you want to look for. Flexible hours or higher amounts of paid vacation time are also important if you want to be able to take care of your kids if they get sick or to go to their school events.
In addition, look for retirement benefits, like a 401k. A retirement plan may not be on your radar at the moment, but it's something that can't be ignored. It gives you an opportunity to prepare for the future and to make sure you're taken care of when you are no longer working.
A positive work environment is crucial for both employers and employees. If the employees are happy and enjoy their workplace, they will be more productive and will likely want to stay where they're working. Every employer wants good productivity and profits.
If you have a positive relationship with your workplace, it makes you happier and less stressed. You won't bring work problems home, either - ensuring that part of your life stays happy as well.
See if you can talk to any employees of the company. If they're unhappy with the environment and super stressed out with their jobs, it's probably not a place you're going to want to work.
The work environment currently is very collaborative. You're expected to work well with people and get along with them. Communication is very important, so make sure you take this into consideration when you're searching for your next job.
If you're going into an interview and you're already hearing people gossiping about each other in the bathroom, it's probably not a good sign. Take notice of how people are interacting. These are going to be the people you'll have to get along with every single day.
Don't be blinded by the flashy perks employers offer to try and get you in the door. Think hard about what you want and go for the sturdy perks that are going to make your life easier in the long run.
