Move over cafeterias and fitness centers.
Harvard Business Review recently published an article that references a research poll of 1,614 employees who ranked natural light and “views of the outdoors” as the most important aspects of a workplace, ahead of luxuries like on-site fitness or child care centers.
That’s really saying a lot, and kudos to HBR for reaffirming something important that we don’t think about often enough. Out of sight, out of mind, and that goes for sunlight as well, resulting in societies across the world that spend most of their time indoors, and are paying the price in vitamin D deficiency.
I – Word Understanding
Kudos – congratulations
Reaffirming – to state again that something is true
II – Have Your Say
1. How is the outside view from your office?
2. Does your company offer you good benefits?
3. Why are perks important? Have you heard of the most luxurious employee perks offered by some of the top companies?
a. Airbnb – free vacation worth $2,000, annually
b. Reebok – onsite gym and free Crossfit classes
c. Genentech – car washes, haircuts, spa treatments, and even a dentist
d. Spotify – 6-month parental leave, egg freezing and fertility assistance
e. Netflix – unlimited parental leave
f. Ikea – 4-month paid parental leave – for regular and part-time workers
g. Goldman Sach’s – five-day-a-week pilates and tai-chi, to bubble tea in the cafeteria, gender reassignment coverage
h. Starbucks – full tuition reimbursement for those who go back to school
i. Facebook – free housing for interns and health coverage
j. Google – endless free gourmet food
