Do You Need Company Perks to be Happy at Work? Think Again.  

Some of us remember the dot com days when many entrepreneurs took their small companies public and became millionaires and billionaires. But something interesting happened during that time. Small companies would give so many perks to their employees. And I am not talking about enormous bonuses for executives. I refer to complimentary things given to all employees like all day long, free snacks, free soda, free water, free breakfast, lunch, happy hours, and so on. It was all part of the game to assure that people stayed as long as possible in the office, and at the same time, it made employees happy, comfortable, trusted, respected. I hope your company still provides these kinds of perks. 

At that time, I worked as Management Consultant and, as such, was helping many startups with their technology solutions and organizational workflow. I have seen firsthand what the company owners did and its reason. I have also seen people working hard and being happy to be part of that environment. Now providing free perks is nothing new. I worked for the Wall Street companies, and we all know that they would bring you breakfast, lunch, and of course dinner back in the days - just don't leave your desk.   

I was lucky that the founder of the company where I worked and their C-Level executives understood this trend well and kept most employee perks until the day I left (December 2021). Almost as in dot com days that included complimentary breakfast, Starbucks coffee, 

often free lunches, and almost monthly, we would go out as a team-building exercise for a drink. In the UK office, they even had people bring you coffee to your desk, they would then pick up the used mugs to wash them, and the fridge was full of all the goodies. 

Then at some point, Many businesses stated changing trends. But when a business decides to start taking away little things from people, such as free water or soft drinks, people get upset. This is what happens when you get used to one thing, and they take it away from you. 

As an employee of any business, small or large, you always have to keep in mind that there is only one reason you are hired. And that is to help the company make money. Someone inside the company is looking at the finances and will decide if these free perks can be sustained. The last company I worked for had many perks, which I believe kept a lot of people staying there. From amazing professional Starbucks coffee machines to weekly happy hours, weekly hut breakfast, and overall establishing environment where people can have friendly relationships with their colleagues. And without connections, nothing can be done in any organization. 

Why are we even discussing the perks when most people say give me the high salary. I don’t care about free bonuses. Of course, making enough money is important, but working in a friendly, supportive, and respectful of employees is the key to employee happiness. 

However, please remember that if you have terrific perks taken away from you, that company is not doing this to upset you. They probably know that they don't have to give you these things any longer to keep you there. The trend may have changed. Maybe, and just maybe, the finances are not allowing them to continue the program. (and keep making a ton of money for their executive team and shareholders).

Why do companies do this anyways? You get free coffee so you don't have to go out to get it. You get breakfast so you can come earlier to the office. You get free lunch so you don't have to leave your desk. You get free dinner so you don't leave the office till late....And so on. Got it?

So do not let your happiness at work depend on your employer or the perks you may or may not get if this is just a means for you to pay your bills, keep it that way. If you can see this job as your career, work toward that. What about perks? They do not give you the perks to make you happy anyway. Most perks are there so you can work even harder.  

To your success.

Braco Pobric 

Braco Pobric is an Internationally Recognized Positive Psychology Expert, Executive Coach, and Corporate Trainer. He is the bestselling author of Habits and Happiness: How to Become Happier and Improve Your Wellbeing by Changing Your Habits. Braco is a founding member and Chief Happiness Officer of the Life Success Academy, Certified Positive Psychology Master Trainer, and former globally Certified Trainer and Business Coach for Dale Carnegie Training. His unique approach to integrated learning in Positive Psychology Coaching (PPMC) program let him train over 60,000 Students in 172 countries.