Other 'perky' benefits for employees?

[Guest prrondez]

Other than the traditional benefits, medical/dental, etc., what other perks do you offer your employees? I am looking to set up some extras for our employees. I've started out with the basics, amusement park discounts, etc. but am looking for other creative ones.

Regarding the MKC (Magic Kingdom Card), has anyone acted as the club director? I understand that the club director gets some 'perks' of their own...tickets? discounts? I'd love to hear more about it-although this doesn't make the difference about me receiving the cards for our employees.

Thanks for any info!

[Guest nac]

How about vision care discount cards? Lenscrafters and Cole Vision offer discount programs to employers for little or no start-up costs; Cole also offers a very inexpensive, voluntary employee vision care program.

Depending on the demog makeup of your workforce, you might look at hooking up with a work/life resource and referral service vendor. We have a fabulous one that costs us $10.50 per ee per year and it's well worth the money - they provide R&R for everything from child care and elder care to answering questions about etiquette, dealing with your child's school, finding resources for disabled adults - you name it.

Back to the no-cost category, we also have something called "Transit Lube" - a service that comes in to do oil changes right in our parking lot. Employee pays all but it's convenient.

And in that vein, any personal time-saving or wellness services, depending on your ee's needs, are well received. Chair massages, health fairs, mammography van, etc.

[Guest prrondez]

Thank you nac for your great suggestions. I especially love the idea of the work/life resource. I am in California. Can you tell me how I would go about locating such an organization?

[Guest N Rigsby]

The Magic Kingdom Club is great. It's very easy to administer. When an employee requests a discount card, you have them fill out the bottom portion and return it to you. The only responsibility you have is to mail the completed cards back to the Magic Kingdom Club. As far as benefits for the club director, for the past 2 years I have received 6 free tickets to Disney World or Disney Land. You may also want to check with other theme parks in the area-most of them offer some type of discount.

[Guest prrondez]

Thanks, N Rigsby, for your info. I have applied for the MKC card for our employees. That's great that you get 6 free tickets to WDW or Disneyland! I am actually planning on taking my family next Feb to WDW. Are those one-day tickets or are they the multi-day/multi-park passes?

THANKS

[Sheila K]

Okay gang...time for someone to give up the phone number for MKC!! Thanks in advance.

Sheila K

[Guest nac]

Nothing like being 3000 miles away.

My own vendors are located here in Wethersfield CT - Family Care and Workforce Diversity Consultants - (860) 563-6901. They work on a national level (United Technologies is their largest client); they're also in the final stages of negotiating with one of the leading financial institutions in the US. I whole-heartedly recommend them. Their quality of service is exceptional.

Others that I know of include Work/Family Directions - they're a bit more expensive, and they're kind of the "name brand" of the w/l field, and I think they're located in Boston.

If you have an EAP, check with them - they may know of a local vendor who's at least in the same time zone! Looking in the yellow pages, I think you'd want to try "Consultants".

Good luck.

[Guest handtek2k]

Another excellent benefit enhancement that you can use that has a very minimal cost (essentially the incremental cost of administration) is an employee computer purchase program. The benefit the employer provides is assistance in financing the computer purchase. We (Hand Technologies) have this type of program available for companies. I have an overview of the program which I can provide via email to anyone interested. Employees love these programs, and their cost is very minimal.

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We aim above the mark to hit the mark - Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Guest tharden]

Would you like an employee benefit that costs the company NOTHING and takes very little administration time yet provides your employees with a much needed service? Our company provides a wide variety of legal services, advice, representation to employees and their families. We guarantee them nationwide access to thousands of top-rated law firms and lawyers. This valuable HMO-type service is to attorney fees and legal bills what HMOs are to medical costs and doctor bills.

By providing your employees with a "family lawyer", it reduces stress, lowers their abseetism rate, decreased health care costs, increases productivity and company morale, and shows you care for your employees both on and off the job.

Companies such as American Express, Pepsi, Sears, and soon 7-11 provide this type of needed benefit to its employees. Within the next few years, it is expected that 20% of all US companies will offer this type ofservice.

Millions of employees truly appreciate this protection (over 60% of your employees WILL participate) and only costs each about $3.45 week!

To receive an Employee Benefits Packet, respond to this Email or call 1-888-834-5788.

[GBurns]

We now have TWO (2) direct solicitations?

Moderator ???

[Guest handtek2k]

Its not my intent to be inappropriate in this forum, but I thought I was in bounds in responding to the original question which asked for other benefit enhancement options. The poster asked for suggestions, and I gave one which my company provides. I would not call that a blanket solicitation. Employee computer purdchase plans ARE a great benefit enhancement and cost very little.

I liked some of the other ideas that people gave. The Magic Kingdom stuff sounds worthwhile, I'm getting that information for my own use.

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We aim above the mark to hit the mark - Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Sheila K]

Okay gang: In my best Moderator voice, I do not have a problem with information posted when it is ON topic. I believe that both of these responses are within the scope of the topic at hand and do apply to the question that was asked.

If these postings were made in response to a PTO-type question, then they would be deleted.

If you disagree, please e-mail me privately.

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Good Luck!!!

Sheila K 8^)

[GBurns]

What is a PTO type question.Also I dont see where the Pre-paid legal item was on topic.

[Guest tharden]

As a Pre-Paid Legal Services Group Benefits Specialist, I WAS responding to the original question of "other employee benefits". Offering a group legal service plan is an appreciated employee benefit.

Thousands of companies now offer this type of plan because they have almost no administration, costs the company nothing (unless they want to fringe), and because when offered, more than 70% of employees sign up and retain this service for them and their families. This does fall into the realm of "another benefit."

I felt a need to respond to the last post, but I really rather not start or become the topic of a debate. The initial post asked for other benefits and I gave HIM one.

[GBurns]

The initial post asked for ideas and comments on other benefits that might be available. You and the other person tried to SELL your product. Neother of you gave a referral or advice etc, as is normally done, instead you both tried to make a SALE.

[Guest HK]

I have been looking on the web for these types of things myself. Another perk is personal financial services.

IF you are comfortable allowing a financial services firm into your company… you can work with a financial services provider to negotiate reduced minimums and fees. The only cost I can see would be to set up the direct deposits.

This is my first posting. I have opened another topic under Misc. Benefits. I would be interested to hear comments from anyone else who has looked into these services. Why did you decided not to go forward? If you did go forward, do you have any tips?

Thank you!

[Guest mohawkbow]

So, to get us back on the topic of 'perky' benefits, what other types of things are companies offering their employees? I like the MKC idea, and I was hoping for more suggestions along those lines. Company sponsored events such as BBQs, movie outings, miniature golf, other social events, etc. I am looking for ideas that will get employees out of the office, and give them a social outlet so they get to know each other. Any ideas?

[Guest CLKeown]

The chair massage idea is a fabulous one. It really seems to have a positive effect on morale.

In line with the oil change item, I worked for a company who had an auto detailer come by to clean the employees cars. We also had a near by dry cleaners who would pick up clothes for dry cleaning at our office and drop of the clean clothes once a week.

Another company I worked with kept the refrigerator stocked with a variety of sodas. Those employees who drink soda and not coffee could enjoy the free beverage perk that only coffee drinkers get in many places. Sounds silly, but the employees really seemed to appreciate the gesture.

And one idea I heard elsewhere was a company who convinced a cleaning service to offer discounted rates to their employees.

These aren't spectacular benefits, but they did seem to "de-stress" our employees a little by being able to "do two things at once".

Carole

[Sheila K]

We implemented a "Fun Committee" last year. We asked for volunteers to serve on a committee and planned several social events, usually with discounts. We planned activites once per quarter and alternated between family outings and "singles" type events. We had a day at the amusement park, as well as an afternoon at a "beach club"-type bar, with sand volleyball, etc. Discounted day at the movies (where we attended as a group) was also fun. We even did a golf tournament!

It doesn't take too much work, and we allow time for the committee members to meet on company time.

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Good Luck!!!

Sheila K 8^)

602 683-1013