Not all businesses need Silicon Valley perks

A study by Glassdoor found that three out of five, or 57 percent, of people report benefits and perks being among their top considerations before accepting a job. Also, four out of five people say they would prefer new perks over a pay raise.

Business Insider found that “nonmonetary benefits can make all the difference” in times of talent shortage. Furthermore, Business Insider found that new hires want more vacation days. They also want to work from home.

What companies are offering:
While free parking seems ordinary, there are some perks that are anything but.
ADP took a look around workplaces and found some valuable perks.
– Netflix supports a full year of paid maternity and paternity leave.
– Airbnb offers an annual $2,000 travel stipend.
– Asana covers executive and life coaching services.
– Scripps Health offers pet insurance plus you can have your pet in the office.
– Google has medical care on site and nap pods, among its many benefits.

ADP notes that offering perks may have a positive impact on your employer brand, it’s still important to avoid “confusing non-financial compensation with an effective employer branding strategy.”

ADP pointed to a Forbes article in which a CEO says, “all of the perks in the world will not improve employee morale if the underlying culture sucks.”

What employees really want:
Perhaps the most interesting find about what employees want costs employers little to no money. Surveyor 15Five found that 81 percent of workers preferred better open communication with their bosses to perks like free food and gym memberships.