Is fresh fruit really a benefit? 🍎

Is fresh fruit really a benefit? 🍎

I recently made an offer to a candidate and, included in the benefits, was... Fresh fruit in the office.

The candidate actually picked up on it and said that, while it was a nice thing to have, they weren’t sure it should really be listed as a benefit of the offer. They also mentioned dress-down Fridays. And it got me thinking…

What else have I seen over the years that probably falls into the “nice to have” rather than “benefit” category?

- Free tea and coffee

- Fresh fruit

- Dress-down days

- A modern office environment

- Social events

- Occasional team lunches

And to be clear, I’m not saying these aren’t good things to have. They can absolutely make an office a nicer place to work!

But for me, the real benefits alongside a job offer are things that have a tangible value, such as:

🏖️ Extra annual leave

🏥 Private medical insurance

👶 Enhanced parental leave

💰 Enhanced pension contributions

🛡️ Life assurance

🚗 Free Parking

🏠 Real hybrid / flexible working

What have you seen included in a benefits list that you’d class more as a “nice to have”?