Your Secret Benefits
September 26th 2006 01:28
At most jobs, you’ve got benefits that everyone knows about: the 401 (k) plan, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Beyond that are little-discussed benefits that you may have to dig for to find. If you work for a decent-sized company, you’d be surprised how many companies will line up to give you a deal.
If you work for a small company, the list of benefits might fit on a neat sheet of paper. But if you work for a company of any large size, they’ll often purchase benefit packages for their employees. At my work, an employee of our HR Service Center couldn’t keep track of all the businesses that discounts are available from. If in your employee manual you just see a URL for employee discounts, take a look; you may be surprised at what you find.
Among the discounts I found were cell phone companies, car rentals, flowers, online book stores, legal services, computers, and more. There are quite a few ways I can get a bargain using these free discounts.
One of the most common and important benefits is a computer purchase benefit, where you can get a discount through a big computer manufacturer. If you’re needing a custom built system, a discount of 5-10% can be a difference of $30-$60 for a $600 system, so it’s not pocket change.
As with any other bargain opportunity, there are a couple cautions. The first is that even though you may be getting a discount, you may not be getting a bargain. Let’s say that Company A is charging 130% of what company B is. Company A gives you a 20% discount, meaning Company B is still the better bargain.
The second goes back to what I wrote previously, a bargain has to be an advantageous purchase. Every business who offers this discount isn’t doing so for the nominal compensation they receive. They’re doing it to get your business, but some businesses you don’t need.
If you’re being offered a discount on something you don’t need, it’s not a bargain. While you may choose to try a new service that’s offered as an employee benefit because it sounds interesting, or you think it might be beneficial, don’t try it just because it’s discounted.
If you work for a small company, the list of benefits might fit on a neat sheet of paper. But if you work for a company of any large size, they’ll often purchase benefit packages for their employees. At my work, an employee of our HR Service Center couldn’t keep track of all the businesses that discounts are available from. If in your employee manual you just see a URL for employee discounts, take a look; you may be surprised at what you find.
Among the discounts I found were cell phone companies, car rentals, flowers, online book stores, legal services, computers, and more. There are quite a few ways I can get a bargain using these free discounts.
One of the most common and important benefits is a computer purchase benefit, where you can get a discount through a big computer manufacturer. If you’re needing a custom built system, a discount of 5-10% can be a difference of $30-$60 for a $600 system, so it’s not pocket change.
As with any other bargain opportunity, there are a couple cautions. The first is that even though you may be getting a discount, you may not be getting a bargain. Let’s say that Company A is charging 130% of what company B is. Company A gives you a 20% discount, meaning Company B is still the better bargain.
The second goes back to what I wrote previously, a bargain has to be an advantageous purchase. Every business who offers this discount isn’t doing so for the nominal compensation they receive. They’re doing it to get your business, but some businesses you don’t need.
If you’re being offered a discount on something you don’t need, it’s not a bargain. While you may choose to try a new service that’s offered as an employee benefit because it sounds interesting, or you think it might be beneficial, don’t try it just because it’s discounted.
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