We've all heard the war stories of private jets, booked clubs and models and bottles. It seems like the 'good-old-days' may have come to an end but I was curious of any recent cool experience you guys have had?
Ex. Closing dinners, relationship management etc
Not me, but my bestfriend's mom worked at a large corporation in one of the highest positions possible without being C-suite. She would always get season tickets to whatever sports team she wanted, including box seats/glass/floor seats to playoff games. Gas cards, business class every flight, nice cars as her rental dropped off at her hotel if she wanted. Lots of random client/company merchandise.
Probably not nearly as good as some people get here but I thought it was really cool.
Those sound like the perks that improve your actual quality of life instead of a 1 off trip or something.
What field/position was she in?
President/MD type position for NA and EU for a large data analytics company. I don't know the full specifics.
Companies like that really stick with you though. My fiancée's company has free breakfast and lunch, a free massive gym, a free nutritionist, free childcare, free rental cars, a pension, profit share among all employees, free healthcare for life for the whole immediate family after 20 years in, etc.
Wow, that's really cool. Can I ask what industry/type of company?
I'm surprised that more companies haven't gone this route to combat the culture/ attitude we have towards staying with one employer throughout a career.
Sounds like a BigTechCo
Health insurance
Most of the people I know with the best work perks are either in health insurance or benefits consulting FWIW.
Company trip to the Bahamas with significant others
15% off at the Trump Cafe.
I almost kind of wish I was joking.
![https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/09/f9/ca/a0/trump-cafe…] [https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/09/f9/ca/a0/trump-cafe… https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/09/f9/ca/a0/trump-cafe…
They always had good salads and comfort foods there it seemed. Like a really nice roast beef with the dude that - his only job all day - is to slice beef there. Or brisket or something to get with some mashed potatoes.
My routine was to typically go into the office on that block (57th/Madison) about 1x month and have lunch at the Trump Cafe for 15% off. Just living the dream - right?
Also - there used to be a mini Starbucks in that room too on the second floor - what more do you need???
Thanks Don - I loved you from the start.
RIP Mac Miller
CEO level and the coolest thing they gave you was 15% off at Trump Cafe? Lmk what type of company you work for so I know where not to apply. As long as the comp is worth it I guess it doesn't matter. But i'd expect corporate jets, bentleys etc.
Yeah, I am the CEO of Exxon or something, lol. That's all they gave me. rofl.
There is no option for 'Entrepreneur'. I used to have Corporate Finance on there as it is much of my background and am in CF type roles from time to time, but doesn't really embrace my current state now.
Mate the least they should've done is given you a free meal instead of 15 off
Not unless Mexico pays for it though
What do you do now? Generally?
I love a broad margin to my life. Sometimes, in a summer morning, having taken my accustomed bath, I sit in my sunny doorway from sunrise till noon, rapt in a revery, amidst the pines and hickories and sumachs, in undisturbed solitude and stillness, while the birds sing around or flitted noiseless through the house, until by the sun falling in at my west window, or the noise of some traveller's wagon on the distant highway, I was reminded of the lapse of time. I grew in those seasons like corn in the night, and they were far better than any work of the hands would have been. They were not time subtracted from my life, but so much over and above my usual allowance.
I realized what the Orientals mean by contemplation and the forsaking of works. For the most part, I minded not how the hours went. The day advanced as if to light some work of mine; it was morning, and lo, now it is evening, and nothing memorable is accomplished. Instead of singing like the birds, I silently smiled at my incessant good fortune. As the sparrow had its trill, sitting on the hickory before my door, so had I my chuckle or suppressed warble which he might hear out of my nest. My days were not days of the week, bearing the stamp of any heathen deity, nor were they minced into hours and fretted by the ticking of a clock; for I lived like the Puri Indians, of whom it is said that "for yesterday, today, and tomorrow they have only one word, and they express the variety of meaning by pointing backward for yesterday forward for tomorrow, and overhead for the passing day.
-Henry David Thoreau
RIP to a real one indeed
Nothing too out of the ordinary but I've stayed at some of the nicest hotels in SF, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Boston, etc. Took a private jet once.
Friends parent is in the country managent for a German carmaker in Asia. Basically they pay flights back to Germany (business class), a high rise apartment in the city plus a chauffeur coming with whichever car desired from this brand (literally every one, think M/RS/AMG type cars).
Another friends sister works in sales for a software firm in the UK. After surpassing her targets by a vast amount in the first year they were flying her to Paris and reserving the entire Tiffany store for her, and of course allowed her to spend some bucks there. Underperformed her target in the second year and nearly got fired.
I asked one of my old bosses about perks and he said "would you rather the company buy a bunch of stuff you don't need, or would you like the money so you can buy what you want?".
That said, buddy moved with his company, negotiated an intercontinental business class flight home for him and his wife every quarter, think he actually managed to use some of them.
I've heard of closing dinners in some pretty cool places, think helicopter to an offshore platform for an oil deal and in an underground mine for a mining deal.
Im torn on the whole getting perks vs. getting paid the equivalent.
For example, would an extra $25 a day make the same impact to you as your firm paying for your dinner? Im willing to bet not.
When I was a junior, I would have taken the extra $65 per day in lieu of meals and cab. Would you rather the acrylic deal toy or $200? I get that $200 is not a lot of money, so maybe keep the toy?
I agree with this. The perks or deal toys or whatever offer an intangible aspect to it though, whether it's in the form of appreciation/recognition from the firm, or 'prestige' or whatever. Stuff you can't buy with some marginal theoretical extra money.
The occasional court side seats to professional Basketball game.
Free parking anywhere in my home city. Actually pretty useful and is a big expense YOY.
Door-to-door black car, usually a stretch limo, was my best perk ever. Employer was the WSJ. Wasn't because I was anybody special: black car service was automatic for anyone required to be in before 7 am. I got in at 5:45 to open up the TV operation. That early, I usually got the stretch cars, plus a free wake up call. Zooming down the FDR at 80 mph, while it was still dark, no traffic, sure beat taking the subway.
Wow - lucky! Wish I had that, I'm a morning person, I'd be taking that thing in EVERY day.
FAKE NEWS!!!
MONEY
A hemorrhoid from sitting down so long.
LOL
Golden handcuffs everywhere... just give me $.
Use of company yacht on team trip to Hong Kong. Sick experience.
Free Alcohol
Meeting/visiting biggest names in tech. Epic.
When I worked in PWM I left at 4:30 every day in the summer to go golfing. Does that count?
Got to fly in the company's private jet for a road show
My fund owned some ultra luxury condominiums at a 5 star hotel in the Caribbean that I was allowed to use several times for vacation/"work trips". They were on the market for $4-15MM depending upon the size of the suite.
Unlimited vacation days at your discretion. Provided you get your shit done being able to take time off for however long you want within reason is pretty damn awesome.
Free K-cups
Every other Friday is a half day (Off at noon)
Hey NonTargetBanker1 - I wanted to chat with you but I somehow cannot send you a PM....is there any way you can send me a PM and have the conversation rolling from there?
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