As the New Year approaches, many of us are thinking about how we could be a bit healthier (and happier) in 2018. That’s why we asked a few local tech companies to share their most competitive health and wellness perks. From “Mindful Mondays” to fertility treatments, the following company benefits are anything but boring.
At performance optimization company WHOOP, every employee gets a WHOOP strap on their first day of work to monitor their fitness, said executive assistant Tracy Hilliard.
What unique health and wellness perks do you offer employees?
WHOOP offers a fitness reimbursement for any activity or competition an employee is training for. Employees also enjoy access to our in-office gym, which is great for either a quick workout during the day, or to keep up with a regular training regimen. To help our team members perform optimally in all aspects of their lives, we give each employee a WHOOP strap on their first day. Many of our employees regularly participate in data collections that helps improve our company’s algorithms, while keeping the team active. Data can be collected from activities ranging from short rowing sessions in the office to after-work basketball games.
How do these perks impact your company culture?
The perks we offer have incentivized WHOOP employees to organically set up all sorts of team-building activities, including fun runs, obstacle-course relays, and even marathons they wouldn’t have thought to take part in otherwise. It's also been a great way to put WHOOP to use. We are immersed in an athlete- and sports-science culture, surrounded by the most talented and knowledgeable people in a variety of areas, from data science to exercise physiology.
At PillPack, VP of communications Jacquelyn Miller explains how promoting inclusivity is at the core of the healthtech company’s mission.
What unique health and wellness perks do you offer employees?
One of our more unique benefits is that, as part of our commitment to being an inclusive place to work, PillPack's health insurance coverage meets the complete standards of care recommended by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). This includes coverage for every recommended component of elective gender reassignment surgery.
How do these perks impact your company culture?
Adherence to WPATH care standards is one way that we help every person at PillPack be their authentic self at work, in a supportive and welcoming environment. We also offer benefits that help employees take proactive control of their health, including earned rebates on gym memberships, free weekly yoga in the office and $0 co-pays on medications for chronic conditions.
Communications lead Sarah Vallarino shares some of the unique health perks at real estate company Compass, including up to $10,000 per year for fertility care treatments such as egg freezing and IVF.
What unique health and wellness perks do you offer employees?
At Compass, we believe in a comprehensive approach to our health and wellness benefits for our employees. Compass covers 100 percent of the cost for health, vision and dental coverage for all employees and dependents, in addition to offering an $85 per month fitness reimbursement and up to $10,000 per year for fertility care treatments including egg freezing. Compass also provides 16 weeks of primary parental care leave and eight weeks secondary parental care leave covered at 100 percent of salary, as well as maternity support via a digital concierge that provides guidance from conception through pregnancy, postpartum and back to work.
How do these perks impact Compass' company culture?
These perks emphasize Compass' commitment to care for our employees and their families, allowing them to focus on doing what they do best while helping everyone find their place in the world. We've seen a continual increase in employee satisfaction via our monthly pulse trackers since launching the health and wellness program, implying the result on company culture has been positive.
Stacey Scott, VP of people operations at travel company Lola, explains that there’s more to health and wellness than providing unlimited snacks and free beer to employees.
What unique health and wellness perks do you offer employees?
While unlimited snacks and beer in the office is a nice perk, it’s important to provide unique benefits that will help keep employees motivated, engaged and healthy — as well as keep the work culture strong and vibrant. Lola's company culture is team-first, which is why we offer an incentivized nutrition program that two-thirds of the company signed up for. We’ve also introduced weekly smoothie bars, make-your-own yogurt parfaits and a Mediterranean snack bar for a change from chips and other salty snacks. The nutrition program is company-paid, with the possibility of subsidized individual coaching if an employee has the desire.
We also offer a “Mindful Monday” led meditation program. We started Mindful Mondays in the fall. CEO Paul English has meditated for years and he thought it would be nice to share this wonderful practice with everyone at Lola. We have a meditation coach, Madeline Klyne, who comes to Lola once a month. Anyone who would like to can join the group as she leads us through mediation and a discussion on how to become more present in our lives. Each session, the group is diverse including people who have never meditated before, (like me), to people who do so regularly.
How do these perks impact your company culture?
The nutrition program, in particular, has helped bring the competitive atmosphere amongst the teams. It's music to my ears. First and foremost if people are motivated to do this, they are going to absolutely feel better. Secondly, our teams are cross-functional so they are getting to know people they don't necessarily work with each day. And lastly, but very importantly, breeding a "We want to win as a team" attitude is part of what will make us successful as a company. We actually had a Mindful Monday session the other day and I heard people talking about it all throughout the day; especially with the hectic season, it was a much appreciated hour away.
