Top Perks that Boost Employee Happiness

Going to work should never mean business as usual. Employee happiness is linked to emotional states of balance and appreciation. Today's business owners realize the importance of meeting more than their employees' financial needs with a paycheck.

Work benefits are great --- but let's face it --- sometimes salaries and the supplemental financial benefits of insurance and social security only go so far. Below are a few ways different companies keep things fresh by breaking away from the conventional to remind us that employee happiness is essential.

Unconventional freedom

Forget 2 or 3 weeks of vacation. Today's employees want freedom to make decisions and manage their lives. Glassdoor and Virgin offer their teams unlimited time off. Metis Communications caps the unlimited part, but gives time off for birthdays, bonus vacation weeks, and summer Friday vacation days after 5 years. Then there's Netflix, which is part of a growing trend of measuring productivity by what's completed rather than tracked hours.

Work Hard, Play Hard

It's a well-documented fact that getting out of the office chair not only helps you live longer, healthier lives, but makes them infinitely more productive.

Pantagonia encourages its employees to take a midday break and jump on a bike, a surfboard, hit the sand for some volleyball, or stretch it out with yoga.

Emotional health

Getting stress under control is key for productivity.

S.C. Johnson provides a concierge to run your daily errands while you work. Microsoft rewards employees with an entire shopping mall. Stay productive and complete errands on your breaks. Not to mention, shopping therapy helps keep tensions down.

Fashion is alive and well

Perks don't have to break the company bank to be effective, so Zappos initiated Tank Top Tuesday's and laughter yoga sessions. Sometimes it's the simple things that make all the difference. JM Family Enterprises allows their successful employees free use of the company yachts. Now that's a perk!

AirBNB offers a new take on Friday attire with its hit Formal Friday and themed days. Others take it all off, as in the infamous Naked Friday's of onebestway in Newcastle.

Food for thought

Starbucks offers all eligible employees who work 20 hours or more with a College Achievement Plan. Employees can work toward their BA through Arizona State University's online program, full tuition paid. Konnect PR firm offers employees discounts on classes and educational pursuits. DPR Construction outfits the office with a wine bar available during work hours.

Family time

Family is important. Apple offers egg freezing to their female employees. Facebook gives new parents 4 months of paid leave, and reimburses for adoption and day care, as well as providing $4,000 baby cash post-birth.

Workplace culture is important. But without feeling like you matter, employee happiness, morale, and longevity hangs in the balance. CyberCoders can help you step out of the conventional to find the work-life balance and appreciation you deserve.