Do Employee Perks Matter for Law Firms?

According to data by Glassdoor, 3 out of 5 employees rate the employer's perks as being a top consideration before accepting a job. So why should lawyers be any different?

Law firms aren't really known for being overly generous or creative with their perks. Maybe it's time that law firms start trying to keep up with their tech-company cousins -- and start offering real incentives to lawyers.

Perks Over Money

Apparently, people would rather have perks than money. According to the surveys conducted by Glassdoor, perks rate very highly in some of the considerations that potential employees mull around in their mind before they accept one employment offer over another. In general, the most important perks people worry about are health care, vacation and paid time off, bonuses, sick days, and retirement plans -- in that order.

It should be no surprise to anyone that perks are preferred over money (at least to a limit). Unless your employer is giving you an enormous raise, the money will likely end up being worth more to you as a perk than money in your pocket.

Glassdoor's "Perk-iest" Places to Work

• Twitter: Twitter provides three catered meals a day. But you also get improv classes and on-site acupuncture. We were already sold at the free meals. Can you imagine how much that saves you in just in food expenditure alone?
• Facebook: If you give birth to a newborn, Facebook will provide you with $4,000 in so-called "baby-cash" to be used on your bundle of joy.
• Google: Google provides a somewhat morbid, but useful perk -- for one still living. Upon death, the surviving (and hopefully grieving) spouse will be provided with 50 percent of the deceased income for the next ten months.

Not a Perk -- but a Little Less 'Spanish Inquisition'

Whenever performance review time comes around in BigLaw, the billable hour always comes up. Fortunately, at least some firms out there have let go of the old ways and are giving their associates some breathing room. Sure, it's not a perk ... but, baby steps.

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Related Resources:

• Search Job Trends (Indeed)
• Which Law Firm Boasts The Best Perk? (Above the Law)
• If You're Reading This, You're Probably Already Drunk (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• Have Millennials Ruined Drinking With Their Sober Happy Hours? (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)