Salaries and perks by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!...

During recession and post economic slowdown, cutting overhead costs, increments rollback, sans bonuses for years and slashing perks was the norm.  

In such a scenario, most employees thought having a job was the best option and even pondering over so-called perks was a waste of time.

Even though most companies pulled their purse strings, there are some employers, popular for the kind of benefits they offer to their staff. Here are some names in the corporate world that are known to offer their employees some generous benefits packages, a lot more than standard benefits.

Here's a bird's-eye view.

1# Google

Google claims to be a big family and their benefits are oriented around an individual’s loved ones. New parents at the company get time off and some extra spending money to help them welcome their new bundle of joy.

On-site physicians and nurses, convenient medical services, and comprehensive health care coverage are provided but this can vary by location.

Free food, bowling, bocce courts, free haircuts, free legal advice, only add to the appeal and this is the reason that the company is a top employer of choice.

2# Microsoft

Another heavyweight in the industry, Microsoft, is recognised for offering strong benefits packages. Adoption fee assistance, maternity leave, paid time-off for new moms and dads, and discounts on child-care services are some popular benefits.

If an employee has a breakdown in her/his regular child-care arrangements, employees can take advantage of backup care that provides temporary center-based or in-home care services for children or other dependents.

Annual fitness subsidies, onsite services including dry cleaning, oil change, company store, al fresco dining, are offered to employees but this may vary according to the location.

3# Cisco Systems

Cisco offers physical therapy, acupuncture, and provides the employees with a fitness center. Their discount programme is particularly popular. “By leveraging the purchasing power of all our employees, you can save on almost everything you want to buy,” says the company.

The company provides employee pricing for all major brands, air, hotels and car rentals from corporate perks on personal vacations, discounts on monthly cellphone bills and much more.

4# Johnson & Johnson

Besides the average benefits offered to employees, the company offers vacation time, sick leave, bereavement leave, personal time, and paid and unpaid leave for moms and dads for new additions to the family.

Additionally, the company offers onsite childcare and employee fitness centers at several locations as well as telecommuting and flex-time work arrangements and reimbursement programmes for advanced education.

5# Yahoo

Yahoo has gone up the ladder when it comes to employee benefits, especially on their generous family leave policies.

Extended paid maternity leave, with a $500 cash bonus for things like child care and groceries is given to new parents, to keep employees happy.

6# Facebook

Facebook’s campus is like anything else but a company. The campus has a paved road that runs down the middle of the campus, inviting employees to pop into the candy shop, the bank, the dentist’s office, the doctor’s office, the gym, the bike repair shop, the barbershop, the dry cleaners, a coffee shop, sushi restaurant, video arcade, barbecue shack, Mexican restaurant, pizzeria and burger place. Does it sound like the headquarters of a company?

Facebook perks cater to employees' every need and this makes the company a highly popular employer.

(Home page image courtesy Shutterstock)

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