Fringe Benefits

Money. As Pink Floyd said, it’s a gas.

It’s also something we need to survive, which is why we tend to look for jobs with salaries that cover our expenses.

But what if two organizations offer us the same great job at the same great salary? How do we choose between them? Well, we might look at the fringe benefits they offer: the non-salary perks available to employees. Maybe we’ll get a company truck here; maybe that company will pay for our kids’ daycare. Maybe Company A offers mind-blowingly awesome healthcare and life insurance, while Company B will pay for our master’s degree and a gym membership.

Businesses have figured out that, if they really want to attract the best of the best, they have to come to the table with more than just dollars. They’ve got to sweeten the pot with things beyond a paycheck—fringe benefits—that will make people want to work there.