4 ms·

Free snacks, and their quality, is a complex signal. They're some of the first things to go as cash tightens up, and they're a decent rubric as to how much lead

Free snacks, and their quality, is a complex signal. They're some of the first things to go as cash tightens up, and they're a decent rubric as to how much leadership actively gives a fuck about employees. Or they're a garnish on a pile of shit. It does definitely depend on the goals regarding company/employee relations: is this a job for which I'm paid money, or is it supposed to be more than that? If the former, how're the salaries - actually? If the latter, are they actually putting in effort to deserve it? Like proper code indentation. Yeah, you can just fix it yourself pretty easily, but it signals things.

chillee 6y ago
If you read the article, they're complaining about the lack of free snacks because they're WORKING FROM HOME. To be honest, I suspect it's a joke question.
- RangerScience 6y ago
  Ehh. I could see it either way. "I joke but also I'm serious". Food is my second biggest expense (after ofc rent) - decent lunch is $15-$20 (more with delivery) in my area. For the summer I worked in MV, it was that for a mediocre lunch (nothing good nearby). 15 * 5 * 52 = $3,900. If the company covers it, it's pre-tax to me; if I cover it that's more like $7k out of my salary. (Plus the time to wrangle colleagues and figure out where, transit time, etc) Having food supplied? Actually of pretty substantial value, even if it's not on the level of, say, American health insurance. (Plus, you know, I can buy a house if I don't spend $5 on coffee everyday!)
nradov 6y ago
If leadership actively cares about employees maybe they should eliminate free snacks altogether. Obesity kills about 300K Americans every year. The last thing that highly-paid tech workers with sedentary jobs need is more food. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/192032 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/192032

chillee 6y ago

If you read the article, they're complaining about the lack of free snacks because they're WORKING FROM HOME. To be honest, I suspect it's a joke question.

RangerScience 6y ago
Ehh. I could see it either way. "I joke but also I'm serious". Food is my second biggest expense (after ofc rent) - decent lunch is $15-$20 (more with delivery) in my area. For the summer I worked in MV, it was that for a mediocre lunch (nothing good nearby). 15 * 5 * 52 = $3,900. If the company covers it, it's pre-tax to me; if I cover it that's more like $7k out of my salary. (Plus the time to wrangle colleagues and figure out where, transit time, etc) Having food supplied? Actually of pretty substantial value, even if it's not on the level of, say, American health insurance. (Plus, you know, I can buy a house if I don't spend $5 on coffee everyday!)

nradov 6y ago

If leadership actively cares about employees maybe they should eliminate free snacks altogether. Obesity kills about 300K Americans every year. The last thing that highly-paid tech workers with sedentary jobs need is more food. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/192032 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/192032