Wii, massages, and a beer cart; a tough day at the office

There are few work day actions more discouraging than clock-watching. Time seems to move at tortoise speed and a mere eight-and-a-half minutes feels more like 45.

Some companies make serious efforts to reduce their employees’ clock-watching time by implementing reward systems, activities and other programs designed to improve overall atmosphere in the hopes of greater staff morale, contentedness, and ultimately- productivity.

Maclean’s and Mediacorp pair up annually to study Canadian workplaces, and they’ve recently come out with their list of Top 100 Canadian employers. Most of the companies mentioned have great maternity and paternity leave coverage, health coverage, and pension plans, but I thought I’d highlight a few that have some more original employee benefits.

-Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada: Discounts on bikes, demo models can be borrowed

-L’Oreal Canada: Downtown workplace has coffee bar and discount cosmetics boutique, international training courses in Paris and NYC.

-Mountain Equipment Co-op: On site yoga classes, private nap room, shower facilities for cyclists, loan program for computers/bikes/boats

-Ernst & Young LLP: Up to $1000 for gym memberships or home equipment, extended long weekends

-Halifax Herald: Paid birthdays off

-Hill & Knowlton Canada: Weekly office beer cart

-Research in Motion: Free BlackBerry and usage fees for all employees, on-site massage treatments

-Bayer Inc: Marche-style cafeteria offers take home meals, lounge has Wii system and games, free gym

-Canada Post: Employee hockey and curling tourneys, opportunity to manage Santa Claus letter writing division

Next time I’m in an interview and the employer concludes by asking, “Do you have any questions?” my response will consist of the following, “Yes, I actually have a few. On my paid birthday off, will I be notified on my free Blackberry as to when I should arrive to play Wii while sipping chilled beer? Would it be too much to arrange for the bonspiel to happen the day after my birthday and the day before my scheduled massage and yoga class? That might work out nicely. Finally, is there any way that I can be in charge of the Santa Claus letter writing division, because I think I’d be pretty killer at that.”