3 ms·

A place that I worked (not in the bay area) had a cafeteria where employees could eat one meal for free per workday by using a meal ticket. They also cut deals

A place that I worked (not in the bay area) had a cafeteria where employees could eat one meal for free per workday by using a meal ticket. They also cut deals with nearby restaurants so the meal tickets could be used as basically $5 vouchers at the restaurants. That seemed like an OK compromise. Not sure how it worked behind the scenes.

optimusclimb 8y ago
Why should there even be a "compromise"? My employer gives me free health care. Should that be restricted so I have to spend my own dollars and not get the benefit of a group plan? Should employers not be allowed to give a transit subsidy because it hurts Lyft/Uber? Maybe tech companies should not be allowed to offer stock based compensation because it's unfair to other city residents who work jobs without such things.
- grahamburger 8y ago
  Honestly as an employee it felt like a win all around. If I was tired of the office or my co workers I could go somewhere else. Tried a lot of restaurants I wouldn't have otherwise, so great for them. And the company didn't have to scale their cafeteria as fast as they might have otherwise when hiring.
- scarface74 8y ago
  My employer gives me free health care. Your health care is not “free” it’s part of your compensation where the employer gets to choose how you’re compensated. I get healthcare via my wife’s insurance and I would much rather have the money. In a sane society, your health care wouldn’t be tied to your employer.
  - optimusclimb 8y ago
    It's "free" in the same sense that the food is.
    - iamdave 8y ago
      Contesting this on the grounds that until a line-item on my paystub starts showing up for the cost of a free lunch, I don't think they're comparable at all.
      - Noumenon72 8y ago
        The line-item on your pay stub was a mandate from Obamacare for price transparency. Prior to that the employer contribution for healthcare did not appear.
        jessaustin 8y ago
        "Trumpfeed" will probably have a similar requirement...

optimusclimb 8y ago

Why should there even be a "compromise"? My employer gives me free health care. Should that be restricted so I have to spend my own dollars and not get the benefit of a group plan? Should employers not be allowed to give a transit subsidy because it hurts Lyft/Uber? Maybe tech companies should not be allowed to offer stock based compensation because it's unfair to other city residents who work jobs without such things.

grahamburger 8y ago
Honestly as an employee it felt like a win all around. If I was tired of the office or my co workers I could go somewhere else. Tried a lot of restaurants I wouldn't have otherwise, so great for them. And the company didn't have to scale their cafeteria as fast as they might have otherwise when hiring.
scarface74 8y ago
My employer gives me free health care. Your health care is not “free” it’s part of your compensation where the employer gets to choose how you’re compensated. I get healthcare via my wife’s insurance and I would much rather have the money. In a sane society, your health care wouldn’t be tied to your employer.
- optimusclimb 8y ago
  It's "free" in the same sense that the food is.
  - iamdave 8y ago
    Contesting this on the grounds that until a line-item on my paystub starts showing up for the cost of a free lunch, I don't think they're comparable at all.
    - Noumenon72 8y ago
      The line-item on your pay stub was a mandate from Obamacare for price transparency. Prior to that the employer contribution for healthcare did not appear.
      - jessaustin 8y ago
        "Trumpfeed" will probably have a similar requirement...