Intagible benefits of your job/employer?

[rubybeth]

In looking at switching jobs, I often consider the intangible benefits of my current employer vs. a future employer. I'm wondering what others I haven't considered, anything you can think of would be helpful. A biggie for me that is tangible is that I currently have basically no commute, since I walk to work. But I can use a commute calculator to figure out the actual value of that, and negotiate salary to ameliorate that to some extent, or move closer, but I likely can't replicate being to walk in another geography.

Intangibles I've thought of:

My walk to/from work is through a lovely park with a lake (I know, you can hate me now)
Beautiful work space - modern office space that's kept clean
Private office with large windows (definitely helps in the winter)
Free and easy parking (I rarely use this, but it exists)
Flexible work schedule
WiFi access
For the most part, people leave me alone to do my work

Obviously my job has major drawbacks that I won't go into here, because I'm trying to focus on the positive aspects of my current employer. Can you think of other benefits that can't exactly be accounted for, but are positives nonetheless?

[ToeInTheWater]

for me, one of the intangible benefits is the people i work with.  if you work with people you generally like, in a supportive team environment, that makes a big difference.  we've had people leave our company for greener pastures, only to return a year or 2 later  mostly because of this.

also - how do you feel about the senior mgmt of the company?  do you agree with their vision / direction for the company?  this was a factor in me leaving my prior employer.

b

[PeachFuzzInVA]

I get umm...free state inspections regardless of whether my car actually passes or not? That's about it. Not worth the 60 hour work weeks, getting yelled at by people who are angry their car is broken down, and constantly being pushed to sell services I don't believe in.

[spud1987]

Benefits:

Nice 4 mile bike commute on a flat bike path. Only three street crossings.

Access to a free gym at my office and the flexibility to workout for an hour whenever I'm free.

Standing desk

Decent cafeteria onsite with decent food options

Every other Friday off (80 hours over nine workdays)

Private office

Actually, listing these things out makes me realize my job situation is pretty ideal. Thanks!

[WaRpBeast]

1. Vacation time, number of holidays or floating holidays a year (we have 11) I also get every other Friday off of work.  I work for a Canadian company and the culture certainly shines through.
2. Professional development training and memberships paid for by the company
3. Free bicycle parking in the secure garage
4. Showers/locker room on site
5. Company networking events
6. Company culture of positive (but realistic) people working together to achieve our goal
7. Location of the office close to retaurants, night life, etc.  Being in the Central Business District can greatly impact morale and attracting the right people to the business.
8. 401k match/vesting schedule same for long term incentives/stock options
9. Healtch care program HSA offerings

my company rocks. :)

[mm1970]

Well, I've been here for a number of years.

1. Vacation. I earn the max.  Short of going to a large company, I would have to lose vacation. Many smaller companies start you at 2-3 weeks a year (plus holidays), but I already earn 4.
2. Flexibility.  They let me work whatever hours, meaning I leave at 4:30 pm to pick up both kids before 5:30.  I'm sure I could find that elsewhere, but it might be harder, and maybe not with
3. Salary.  My pay is significantly below the market rate, but I think having flexibility is a no-brainer for me.  I am looking for a new job but I simply will not take a pay cut (I am already below market rate AND pretty sensitive about that fact, being a woman in a man's engineering world.  Men doing the same job at the same or a lower level for the same hours are NOT expected to work for less.)
4. Free coffee

[LiveLean]

I left my only employer to go out on my own years ago, but the one thing I always enjoyed was an on-site fitness center with locker rooms, lounge, etc. Fully equipped and staffed with group fitness classes. They even provided you with a mesh bag and would wash your gym clothes, which would magically appear clean in your locker the next day. Probably only 10 percent of the company used the fitness center, which meant those of us that did had a massive private gym to ourselves. They deducted $8 from each bi-weekly paycheck. The chairman of this Fortune 500 company was a fitness nut and I'd run with him occasionally. I knew even in my early 20s that I wasn't cut out for the career corporate life, but if I had been I possibly could have parlayed that casual relationship into the top of the ladder.

[rockstache]

Nice timing, I was actually working on this list in my head on the way to work this morning (rather than complaining). Ok, so some of these are not 'intangible benefits,' but I wanted to include them anyway.

1. 3 weeks vacay, 11 paid holidays plus personal time whenever I need it for a doctor's appt. or to attend a funeral etc.
2. Opportunity to travel (have visited Thailand, Malaysia, and China on the company dime and flown business class!)
3. Boss never looks over my shoulder, and leaves me alone to do what I need to. Company culture is similar....if you have a good idea, just do it!
4. They very rarely ask me to work more than 40 hours in a week. When they do, it is just for such things as taking a client out, so then comes with the perks of a fancy dinner out with drinks, or a guided tour in my own city, and the opportunity to socialize with people from around the world.
5. Large yearly bonus
6. Opportunity to put work spending on my CCs and earn sign up bonuses.
7. High salary for what I am expected to do, and for how much work I actually have in a day
8. Most of my customers are international (and out of my time zone), so almost everything is email. I hardly ever have to talk on the phone. Which I despise.
9. Nice yearly holiday party with fancy prizes given out as a raffle.

[otter]

I do have some issues with my job (I was thinking about posting about the positives-versus-negatives to get some feedback) but these are some of the intangibles I like:

-for the most part, very low-stress
-35-hour work week, and no one expects you to do work outside of work hours
-relatively pleasant 4.5-mile bicycle commute (granted, I moved here for the job and living within a short bicycle commute from work was one criterion of where I chose to live)
-office is very conveniently located to various things
-18 days paid vacation and an enormous bank of sick time that is separate (I've never used nearly what I accumulate, and it rolls over every year and never expires)
-I can park my bike safely within the building
-I also have two super-secure locations that I can park my bike in downtown at any time.
-generally, it allows me to live a life that I enjoy in a city that I like very much
-well paid
-private office

[cityfolks]

Employees here have access to a modest-but-decent gym as a work benefit. We also have free access to "cultural events" (plays, lectures, etc.) on and around campus, as well as occasional subsidized meals, usually of pretty good quality.

[pdxvandal]

Free coffee and three microbrews on tap.

[partgypsy]

I can walk to and from work, through either downtown or nice neighborhood.
I like the people I work with.
I get to talk to veterans and see a different perspective on life.
Like my office
feel the research I participate in helps improve understanding/care for those in the future.
Only a 40/hr week who respect work/life balance. Really important.

[spud1987]

Free coffee and three microbrews on tap.

That sounds like the most Portland thing ever! Do people actually partake in the microbrews during work hours?

[rubybeth]

These are all really good, thanks for sharing them! I thought of one I didn't list when I originally posted:

-'business casual' dress is the norm (think khakis or corduroy pants, and a sweater or nice women's top in the summer, no collar required), and even more casual is allowed as long as you don't look slovenly - for example, it's Wednesday and I'm wearing jeans and sneakers - I don't even own a suit :)

[EllieStan]

It's my first professional job, and I think my work conditions are amazing !

- Flexible work schedule. I decide when I come in and when I leave.
- It's up to me to decide wether I want to work from the office or home. I commute 3 days/week on average (saving money on gas).
- My desk by the window !
- Very small team, which means I have multiple tasks and different levels of responsibilities. Best way to gain work experience.
- My organisation is active in a wide network that's both institutional and governmental. I get to meet and work with our partners on a regular basis. Couldn't ask for better networking opportunities.
- I do not have to contribute to the syndicate yet, but I benefit from the same income and retirement advantages (that's more money that goes towards my student loans every month).
- I get to travel out of town to attend congresses and other meetings.
- I can join professional training sessions for free.
- I could join the gym downstairs for free
- My office is located in a part of the city where I can picture myself living (it's looks more like a suburb). We'll probably move closer next year and ditch one car. It makes me want to live in this city (I live in the country) and I think I'll enjoy it !
- COworkers and other employees in the building dress casually, I don't and neither does my boss. For some reason I'm glad I don't have to dress too formal, but I choose to, because I know first impressions matter, especially when networking.
- I get along with my boss and she absolutely trusts me.

I don't have paid vacations or other benefits yet, since it was an 8 month contract at the beginning. But I absolutely can't complain, I appreciate everything and every opportunity I already have.

[pdxvandal]

Free coffee and three microbrews on tap.

That sounds like the most Portland thing ever! Do people actually partake in the microbrews during work hours?

Yes, it is very Portland. People partake during work hours no doubt (including myself). Usually not until at least 4 pm though. It's a shared office space, so no one really regulates when you drink.

[okits]

Wow, some of you have amazing employers!  I am stumped for this list, beyond the free coffee.

[Jersey]

1. With 4 years of service I have 23 paid days off to use as I please, plus 6 paid vacations
2. Great 401k/HSA options with Fidelity
3. Corporate Discount on our products
4. We have a gym in the building
5. They are really improving on the learning opportunities they provide us
6. Pay is market average
7. My boss leaves me alone unless he needs to be involved from an escalation
8. I had a uniform allowance last year so I got to pick out some khakis and company shirts that are my new business casual wardrobe

I guess I don't have it too bad. Sometimes I forget that.

[Dee18]

Private office with great windows
Flexible schedule-can work from home half the time
My choice of laptop every three years
$2500 to go to meeting/conference of my choice each year
Part of a university, so free concerts, dance performances, athletic events, speakers
Free tuition for my daughter at a different college out of state
Campus setting, but with plenty of parking (if in by 9:00)
Diversity: young adult students, old colleagues, and everything in between
Summers off, 3 weeks off at Christmas, spring break
Only reason I will leave: to live in a different part of the country...a trade off many academics make

[jorjor]

- A private office with a view of the mountains.
- Located near the intersections of the two major bike paths through the city.
- A team that I enjoy working with.
- Team lunches ordered in once per week.
- A small gym downstairs I can use for free.
- An unmarked, locked bike room for which you must request access which is also stocked with tools, tubes, and pumps for fixes.
- Soon to be 4 weeks vacation, in addition to two weeks of work-related trips that are free that are usually just as much fun as they are work (last year was Orlando and Maui).
- Flexibility to work from home sometimes, and outside of 3 busy months of the year (Feb-Apr) the flexibility to come and go as I please.
- Very little concern that my job is in jeopardy.

[Unique User]

Just a couple months ago I so wanted to leave my job, it was driving me insane.  Then I realized that I doubt I would ever be let go and after a few interviews realized how good I have it, so I am much more relaxed and just ignore all the bs and jockeying for position. 

*I work from home, no commute ever since the office is several states away
*My boss leaves me alone to do my job
*Flexibility to arrange life happenings around my job.  If I have a doc appt or school function, it is up to me to just work earlier, later or more hours another day to get the job done. 
*3 weeks vacation, 10 holidays and unlimited sick time, I'll get an additional week vacation in a few months
*Immediate vesting in 401k with a 4.5% match
*Nice ESPP
*New laptop every couple years and they pay for my phone and internet. 
*Tuition reimbursement and professional development reimbursement
* I'm copying this from someone else but it's true for me also - High salary for what I am expected to do, and for how much work I actually have in a day