Believe it or not, the office doesn’t have to a place that fuels your stress. Plenty of companies—these 10 for starters—offer amazing perks to really motivate you to be happy and healthy while you’re working. Yeah, you heard that right.
When they’re not having incredible team building activities or taking a break at the park or gym, they’re hiring new employees. So, apply fast!
1. VMware
This leader in cloud infrastructure, business mobility, and virtualization software is so good at taking care of its employees that it’s been getting recognition for it left and right. It’s been named as a Fortune 100 Best Company to Work For, has been listed as a truly bike friendly workplace by The League of American Bicyclists, and has been recognized two years in a row by the American Heart Association as a “Fit-Friendly Worksite.”
Why all the accolades? Well, it could have something to do with the amazing on-site gym that’s open 24/7. Or maybe the variety of workout classes that are offered throughout the day, so employees are free to take a dance class or go for a spin between meetings. Or it might have to do with the company’s major wellness programs, such as its “Amazing Race,” in which more than 2,000 employees across its global sites earn “miles” by participating in fitness activities to complete a virtual trip around the world.
Whatever the reason, it’s clear that VMware fosters a community that doesn’t just work together, but that also stays healthy together.
2. Response Mine
Relying on data, Response Mine works to bring its clients high customer acquisition and retention rates and ultimately increase their revenues. But it’s safe to say that this company knows just as much about keeping employees around as it does about keeping customers around.
“We value that employees have lives outside the office,” says Recruiting Coordinator Amanda Benton.
In addition to participating in a company-wide 5K this summer, the company is hosting an eight-week pedometer challenge to get the entire company motivated. Along the way, employees can take advantage of healthy snacks and the occasional “Work in the Park Days” (Wi-Fi and the office dogs obviously included).
3. Cloudera
All Cloudera employees work together to deliver software solutions that help enabling users worldwide answer big questions, make hunch-free decisions, and find quality solutions with big data. More specifically, the entire company has a goal of asking bigger questions for its clients.
But with bigger questions comes harder work—and even more need for some ways to step away from the desk and blow off steam.
That’s why Cloudera offers everything from health fairs to yoga classes, and even a “Silicon Valley Sports League” that brings the team together along with other local startups for healthy games of volleyball, flag football, softball, basketball, and soccer—fostering a community not just within the company, but among nearby tech companies.
4. Black Mountain Systems
Of course, being happy and healthy doesn’t always mean working out at work—sometimes it means having the flexibility to leave the office when you need to take care of yourself.
At Black Mountain Systems, an information technology company that is changing the way the financial industry manages its data, team members are allowed to make their own schedules to best fit their well-being. So, if employees need to leave earlier to commute back home, make a doctor’s appointment, or just work remotely—they have management’s blessing to do so.
When they’re in the office, employees are free to get their work done how they need—be that at a standing desk or sitting on a yoga ball. And, for an extra wellness boost, once a year the company take the entire team on a four-day retreat to an exotic destination (last year was Mexico!) for some fun, team bonding, and—of course—mega relaxation.
5. LivePerson
As a global leader in digital engagement, the team at LivePerson allows its clients to provide interactive customer experiences through innovative technology.
Though the work is hard, employees stay happy and relatively stress-free due to the relaxed atmosphere around the office. Things like hammocks, toys, and yummy snacks around the office definitely help with that, but it really stems from the laid-back group of people (and, perhaps more importantly, laid-back management) who work at LivePerson.
“The worst part about your day is waking up…once you’re in the office you can kind of feel that relaxed atmosphere,” says Breena Murray, an enterprise account manager.
6. HBO
With more than 45 million subscribers, HBO has become a record-breaking company in the cable television industry. So, it’s no surprise that it offers an incredible workspace for its team.
With an on-site gym and cafeteria available exclusively to its employees, team members can grow professionally and personally in the office.
“Work-life balance is a major differentiator at HBO,” says SVP of Program Planning Operations and Analysis Nate Rackiewicz. “The company really invests in its people and in the holistic development of its people.”
7. Livefyre
Livefyre has a mission to get people talking and connected worldwide, using real-time apps to power conversations in and outside of the office. As a team that’s all about building communities, it’s no surprise that there’s quite a social culture in the office, too.
“We all like to be social, we all like to get along, we all like to affect change positively—and we like to be a part of it,” explains Gene Hallman, a senior software engineer who also is the captain of the office kickball team and proud wearer of his famous “sparkle pants” on game days.
Employees also stay healthy while building stronger relationships by participating in rooftop yoga sessions, complete with a killer view of San Francisco.
8. MuleSoft
With a mission to connect the world’s data and devices in one simple and flexible integration, it’s no secret that employees at MuleSoft are able to have a balance of wellness in the office, too.
MuleSoft provides all sorts of perks to help its team achieve this balance: weekly yoga sessions, catered lunches, discounted gym memberships, and even a company-wide “Fit February” where employees get all sorts of workshops and classes around wellness and compete for impressive prizes based on activity.
And for when your need a break from being healthy, just head to the weekly Waffle Wednesdays for a treat with your colleagues.
9. Gap Inc.
While this global fashion brand offers wellness programs to employees across all of its five well-known brands, employees at fitness brand Athleta especially brag about those benefits, striving to be happier, healthier people who really engage with the fitness community.
Adrienne Hardy, General Manager of Athleta’s Flatiron location, shares that she is always living the brand by attending local fitness classes in her favorite Athleta products and sharing everything she knows about the brand she believes in with fellow classmates and fashion-forward friends.
10. The New York Foundling
Dedicated to rebuilding lives and supporting families in the city for nearly 150 years, The New York Foundling works to empower the community. It’s not easy work, and The Foundling understand that it needs to take care of its employees if it wants them to be able to take care of others.
“Everyone at The Foundling is very supportive around taking vacation days and time off to avoid burn out,” explains Mara Osher, Senior Advisor, Evidence-Based Programs.
Additionally, the company supports employee wellness by helping with memberships to gyms and even to programs like Weight Watchers.
Want to see how your company can be featured on a list like this? Email sales@themuse.com.