Absolutely true in my experience. What employees want, even more than additional money, is a lower mental load dealing with the everyday necessities of life, wh

Absolutely true in my experience. What employees want, even more than additional money, is a lower mental load dealing with the everyday necessities of life, which an employer is perfectly placed to provide, since employees spend 40+ hours a week in the office. A more cynical benefit of sodas/snacks/exercise classes/laundry/dogwalking/social events provided by the company is that it makes leaving a lot less appealing. A competitor can easily offer a higher salary, but when departing means completely restructuring an employee's daily routine, it can be a powerful force keeping people in place.