The Great Colleges to Work For offer traditional benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans. But several distinguish themselves in unconventional ways, offering free massages, discount theater tickets, vacation cabins, and more. Unusual benefits often attract talent, explains Bonnie G. Martin, an administrator at SUNY’s College of Technology at Delhi. “Quirky perks help the workplace stand out as being unique,” she says. Here are some of the most notable:
Travel and Leisure
Hardin-Simmons University owns three cabins in the mountains in Ruidoso, N.M., that faculty and staff members may rent at a low cost for vacations. Through arrangements with travel agencies, Hardin-Simmons employees also have reduced-price access to other cabins and facilities throughout the United States and overseas.
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Unexpected Holidays
Once a year in the spring, on a day known as Fox Day, Rollins College surprises faculty and staff members and students with an unexpected day off. The tradition began in 1956, when President Hugh F. McKean canceled all classes to encourage members of the campus to enjoy their day together.
Feel-Good Remedies
Stressed out at work? At Anne Arundel Community College, massage-therapy students run a clinic on the campus, and employees are free to take advantage of it. Ten-dollar donations are encouraged, however.
Pet Perks
At SUNY Delhi, employees are entitled to free pet care, courtesy of the university’s veterinary students. Employee-owned pets get complimentary surgeries and other medical care, as well as bathing and grooming.
That’s Entertainment
Faculty and staff members at Wayne State University receive discounted tickets to Detroit operas, plays, nightclubs, and professional sports games. Ticket discounts for sports and theaters can range between 20 and 50 percent.
Mildred S. Jett, human-resources manager, explains that the program is meant to make community involvement easy. “Because we are an urban university, we want to support the surrounding community,” she says. “Furthermore, we realize that employees need downtime in addition to work, and we want to make sure they have fun.”
Gourmet Cuisine
Staff and faculty members at SUNY Delhi can get a four-course meal from nationally ranked chefs for $20. A recipient of the 2003 American Culinary Federation gold medal, Delhi’s culinary school requires student cooks to, well, cook, and university employees get to consume the fruits of that labor. Employees get steep discounts on gourmet food, including baked goods, butchered meat, and fine dining at the student-run Signatures restaurant.
Weighty Rewards
Many colleges provide their employees with free or subsidized diet programs. At the University of Michigan, all employees get two half-priced Weight Watchers sessions and an $18 discount on each subsequent session. Anne Arundel Community College also offers discounts for these programs.
