5 ms·

Yecch. Everyone knows (or ought to know) that the value of most of those perks has to be offset against something in the company's budget. (Namely: your paych

Yecch. Everyone knows (or ought to know) that the value of most of those perks has to be offset against something in the company's budget. (Namely: your paycheck[1]). (New) startups shouldn't try to compete 1-1 with the handful of already stupendously successful startups on these items. Far better to offer something the big boys can't: like actual responsibility (the kind that by definition, always comes with the act of taking on substantial risk); real challenge; and an opportunity (and expectation) to not only see, but contribute strategically to the whole picture -- including things like business strategy, shaping the company's hiring & general social culture, etc. Not to mention things like decent office space, lack of bureaucracy that's inevitable in any large organization, etc. Those are what I call real perks -- not free massages, a treacly beer keg, or mediocre sushi (half price after 4p!) [1] Actual benefits, like health insurance and paid training, are an entirely different matter of course. In these areas, the employer contribution (at scale) has a decisive leveraging benefit (i.e. generally providing more than what the employer could for herself out of pocket, dollar for dollar). But most of these fashionable "perks" out in startupland have dubious benefit at best -- and most of them I'd happily trade for the (implicit) negative offset in walking around money that goes with them.

saryant 13y ago
> Far better to offer something the big boys can't: like significant responsibility (that by definition, always comes with the act of taking on substantial risk); real challenge, an opportunity (and expectation) to not only see, but contribute strategically to the whole picture -- including things like business strategy, shaping the company's hiring & general social culture, etc. Not to mention things like decent office space, lack of bureaucracy that's inevitable in any large organization, etc. This is what I enjoy the most about working for a young startup. In my current job, I'm the first hire at a TechStars company. I have the freedom and responsibility to get things done and take on challenging tasks. I don't have a lot of experience on paper so the opportunity to take on this level of responsibility is huge for me personally and far more important than free beer or whatever.
dclara 13y ago
Agree.
teh_klev 13y ago
"(New) startups shouldn't try to compete 1-1 with the handful of already stupendously successful startups on these items." Exactly. Pay staff actual real tangible benefits that improve life for them and their families outside of work - such as a proper salary, their health insurance (if in the US or country where there is no national health service such as we have in the UK), don't expect people to work 18 hour days, give staff tangible and enjoyable responsibilities and make the work interesting. I can't help but think there are many young devs and engineers, in their early 20's, being sucked into an almost Scientology-like startup lifestyle where they are brainwashed with massages, beer and sushi into handing their lives away for the betterment of the founders.

saryant 13y ago

> Far better to offer something the big boys can't: like significant responsibility (that by definition, always comes with the act of taking on substantial risk); real challenge, an opportunity (and expectation) to not only see, but contribute strategically to the whole picture -- including things like business strategy, shaping the company's hiring & general social culture, etc. Not to mention things like decent office space, lack of bureaucracy that's inevitable in any large organization, etc. This is what I enjoy the most about working for a young startup. In my current job, I'm the first hire at a TechStars company. I have the freedom and responsibility to get things done and take on challenging tasks. I don't have a lot of experience on paper so the opportunity to take on this level of responsibility is huge for me personally and far more important than free beer or whatever.

dclara 13y ago

Agree.

teh_klev 13y ago

"(New) startups shouldn't try to compete 1-1 with the handful of already stupendously successful startups on these items." Exactly. Pay staff actual real tangible benefits that improve life for them and their families outside of work - such as a proper salary, their health insurance (if in the US or country where there is no national health service such as we have in the UK), don't expect people to work 18 hour days, give staff tangible and enjoyable responsibilities and make the work interesting. I can't help but think there are many young devs and engineers, in their early 20's, being sucked into an almost Scientology-like startup lifestyle where they are brainwashed with massages, beer and sushi into handing their lives away for the betterment of the founders.