What I find interesting is the nature of the perks being offered. So while a big established business might offer 401K or medical and so on (and to be fair, it'

What I find interesting is the nature of the perks being offered. So while a big established business might offer 401K or medical and so on (and to be fair, it's probable that startups offer some of that too) the focus seems to be on perks that "keep you at work". Free meals? Great, I don't have to go home just because I'm hungry. Fun at work? Great I don't need to go home, or go out, to meet my friends. Place to nap at work? Shower? Great - I can spend more time in the office. The work-hard, play-hard mentality, appeals enormously to people who have no real reason to ever leave work. If all your daily chores are taken care off (free dry-cleaning, free food), and if your social needs are met at work, then you'll naturally spend more time there. This life-style appeals less to me, 'cause I have a wife and kids to go home to, and a social life outside the office, and hobbies, and fixing-the-roof-when-it-leaks and stuff like that. But when I was 22 I had none of those things, and I would have thrown myself at an environment like this. Does it honestly matter if I'm making 10K or 20K a year less than I _could_ when I get all my (paltry) living expenses paid for? And the bragging rights over my peers are worth a LOT. Is it a bubble? Well, it's a sign of supply and demand reaching the place where demand outstrips supply. Demand for employees, and also demand for investment-opportunities (by those with cash). That will inflate salaries, and lead to creative (read "fun") work environments. Enjoy the good times, because as sure as nuts are nuts, the wheel will turn and the down-times will come again. Party hard now, but save some nuts too for when the supply overtakes demand again.