What Popular Tech Perks Do Engineers Really Want?

Xbox. PS4. Ping pong table. Kegerator. Game Room. Free soda. Sounds like the ultimate ingredients for a well-stocked frat house, right?

Actually, these are just a few of the popular perks that many tech companies have begun to offer in an attempt to become a top destination for local developer talent. But does it really work? It can. Especially in the case of younger employees who are more concerned with the “fun” aspects of a job than long-term benefits like life insurance or paid time off.

So which perks should you be looking to adopt if you’re looking to become a top destination? Or are perks really necessary at all? Here are a few ideas for how you can attract – and hold onto – the best talent around.

Define Your Culture

According to a 2014 survey from TINYhr, 64% of employees feel that their company does not have a strong culture. So unless your company is devoted to producing the world’s best table tennis talent, ping pong and foosball may not be the perks to build your “culture” around.

Instead, follow the example of Buffer. Included in their employee perks are things like a Jawbone Up (to help track sleeping and exercise,) Kindle Paperwhite (plus unlimited Kindle books,) international company retreats (to places like Thailand, South Africa, and Lake Tahoe), and access to whatever tech or tools they need to get the job done. More importantly, they’ve taken the time to clearly define their company values, including a the following:

• Default to Transparency
• Have a Focus on Self-Improvement
• Make Time to Reflect
• Live Smarter, Not Harder

Make sure the perks you offer reflect your value system, and vice versa (e.g. “Make Time to Reflect” and a company retreat.)

Give Them Tools for Success

Another interesting finding from TINYpulse’s recent survey is the fact that at least 26% of employees do not feel like they have the tools they need to succeed. To keep your team happy, consider investing in “perks” that can make their jobs easier and allow them to get more done in less time. If you’re short on ideas, this post on StackExchange is a treasure trove of suggestions for making lives easier on developers (and other team members). Suggestions include:

• Dual Monitors
• Fewer Meetings
• Access to Conferences/Training
• Casual Dress Code
• Access to Books/Learning Materials
• Input on Company Decisions
• Snacks/Coffee/Soda

Most of these perks are far from lavish, and will allow your workers to be more productive (which is good for you!) You should also consider offering things like employee mentorship programs and structured career paths. These simple “perks” tell your employees that they’re going to be set up for success.

Be Flexible

Zarin Ficklin, lead designer at Utah-based design house HQ, thinks that offering flexibility to employees is important. “One perk I've found designers/developers really care about is flexibility. The ability to work when and where they want is so huge. Even if they usually work 9-5 anyway, just the option to work at home occasionally or take the afternoon off and work at night instead once in a while is very appealing.”

A Few Extras

All of the perks listed above come with a fairly minimal price tag. If you’re looking to beef up your benefits even more, here are a few extra perks from what Forbes considers the top employee perks:

• Gym Membership
• Health Credit (for completing select health-related tasks)
• Mental Health Visits
• Massages
• Child Care
• Dogsitting (I love this one!)

Remember, great perks serve a purpose. They should help your employees get more done and keep their lives in balance. Show your employees you care about their well-being more than you care about foosball and you’re guaranteed to see results!