Ah, the perks of a job. They’re the goodies that sweeten the deal at a gig that’s already great, the proverbial cherry on top. And SoCal tech companies know a thing or two about providing benefits that attract top talent — and keep existing employees happy.
From professional development reimbursement to fully stocked kitchens, local tech companies are pulling out all the stops. We asked LA techies at six companies to weigh in and give us the full scoop on their favorite perks.
Fair’s automotive fintech app presents users with an alternative to the traditional car purchasing experience. The end-to-end app allows customers to find a car and purchase it for an affordable monthly rate, offering a limited warranty, roadside assistance and routine maintenance. Fair grants its team unlimited PTO, but the real perk is that the company’s supportive culture actually allows them to enjoy it.
What’s your number one favorite perk or benefit your company offers, and why?
Cat Cai, senior systems engineer: The best perk is definitely our unlimited PTO. Unlimited PTO means nothing when a startup doesn’t have a culture that actually supports it. Employees often feel guilty about taking time off, because things are too hectic at their job to leave. At Fair, unlimited PTO is something that’s actually honored, even for the engineers.
Marshall Brekka, director of systems engineering: Cat actually took a few weeks off a little over a month into starting, and no one batted an eye.
Cai: I’m definitely not fired yet.
Brekka: Funny story, I took two weeks off right after Cat came back from her vacation. It was like two ships passing in the night.
Unlimited PTO means nothing when a startup doesn’t have a culture that actually supports it.”
What’s the most underrated (but awesome) perk your company offers?
Cai: I don’t know if this is offered as an official perk, and it’s going to sound pretty corny, but I think Fair’s best perk is its people. Fair’s office culture is extremely open and fun, and I’m proud to call a lot of my coworkers my friends.
Brekka: We’ve also gone on a lot of trips together, both in and outside of work. We’ve gone to Vegas a few times, skiing in Utah, and a few of us even rented an RV and drove to Oregon to watch the recent eclipse.
AppOnboard’s demo platform allows techies to test their app before a major launch, while also helping users engage with an app before its release. The company helps developers get an accurate representation of a product with its full-fidelity demos. Daniel Uhm, the company’s product manager, explained that the learning experience he gains from working at AppOnboard goes beyond the standard work perks.
What’s your number one favorite perk or benefit your company offers, and why?
While it is not frequently listed as a standard work perk, I think one of the best benefits of working at AppOnboard is the chance to work with and learn from an experienced and accomplished leadership team. Our founders, Jonathan Zweig and Adam Piechowicz, helped build 14 of the first 100 iOS apps when the app store first launched. Many of our leaders have led top mobile companies in the past, some that have been acquired or part of a successful exit. Having people like that around to learn from is a value that really can’t be quantified. Our leadership team provides its employees with learning and growth opportunities that you most likely won’t get at other companies.
I think one of the best benefits of working at AppOnboard is the chance to work with and learn from an experienced and accomplished leadership team.”
What’s the most underrated (but awesome) perk your company offers?
The most underrated but awesome perk has to be our stocked kitchen. I feel like this is almost a given for many tech companies, but there are varying levels of “stocked” amongst companies. When I say our office is stocked, I mean stocked. We have cans of cold brew coffee that I drink almost daily along with all the latest granola bars, which has become my daily breakfast routine. A lot of snacks are healthy and tasty too, which doesn’t make me feel as guilty when I am snacking throughout the day. I don’t think there are too many companies that would rival our selection.
Fast-growing companies often have to contend with a certain amount of growing pains. LA’s TaskUs wants to make the transition easier. The company acts as a scaling partner for fast-growing and newly funded companies, providing customer and back-office support, and consulting in areas like expansion strategies and digital. The company’s VP of expansion and growth, Jon Wouters, told us more about the various perks the company offers.
What’s your number one favorite perk or benefit your company offers, and why?
My number one favorite perk is that TaskUs offers annual reimbursements for professional development and wellness. One of our core values is continuous self-improvement, which I’m able to practice by utilizing our professional development reimbursement on things such as enrolling in a course, attending seminars, getting a certification, etc. Our wellness reimbursement is also great for encouraging us to stay active — and helping pay my expensive LA trainer.
When I’m on work-related travel, TaskUs reimburses for dog care. As if that wasn’t great enough, TaskUs also offers pet insurance.”
What’s the most underrated (but awesome) perk your company offers?
Our most underrated perk is that TaskUs is dog-friendly. Because I am able to bring my dog to the office on a daily basis, I don’t have to worry about taking her to dog care or pay for dog care every day. When I’m on work-related travel, TaskUs reimburses for dog care. As if that wasn’t great enough, TaskUs also offers pet insurance.
Verifi’s payment protection and management services platform is designed to help e-commerce merchants prevent chargebacks, reduce fraud and improve sales. The company works with both startups and fortune 500 enterprises, processing more than $20 billion in transactions annually. Verifi software engineer Venkata Addanki talked to us about blowing off steam in the company’s break room — which doubles as a game room.
What’s your number one favorite perk or benefit your company offers, and why?
My favorite perks at Verifi are the 401(k) plan and healthcare benefits package. Our company’s 401(k) matching program is generous and provides employees with a great incentive to save for retirement. Healthcare is an essential requirement, and Verifi not only provides good healthcare benefits but also reimburses gym membership fees. This helps to support a healthy lifestyle and work-life balance, which is very important to me.
A game break helps to revitalize and reenergize, and the refreshments available in the kitchen make it even better.”
What’s the most underrated (but awesome) perk your company offers?
The most underrated and awesome perk is the break room with foosball and table tennis. A game break helps to revitalize and reenergize, and the refreshments available in the kitchen make it even better. These seemingly little things give employees the extra motivation to work with enthusiasm and efficiency.
KEYPR wants to create a seamless customer experience for guests at hotels, casinos and luxury residences. The company provides a cloud-based management platform for the hospitality industry, allowing guests to check in, check out and activate a mobile key through its app. According to David Robinson, the company’s director of live ops, the opportunity to solve complex technical problems is the biggest perk of all.
What’s your number one favorite perk or benefit your company offers, and why?
The freedom to solve tough problems is my favorite perk. Working in the tech space is complex and there are many ways to solve problems, but most companies manage creative people in ways that don't allow them to stretch their potential. Here at KEYPR, you are often given, highly complex and intractable technical problems to solve, and it becomes almost a reward. It’s like being on a team with Lebron, and he gives you the last shot. If you are successful, they won’t think twice about giving you another opportunity to shine.
Here at KEYPR, you are often given, highly complex and intractable technical problems to solve, and it becomes almost a reward.”
What’s the most underrated (but awesome) perk your company offers?
We host Mario Kart Wednesdays, where the staff gets together to compete in a few hours of head-to-head gaming. It’s great fun! Not to mention the company-sponsored happy hours, which always seem to happen right when you need a break, and just in time to smash your boss at his favorite game. It means that management is in tune with the staff and that they understand when we all need to stop and blow off some steam.
LegalZoom wants to help cut through the red tape. The company’s platform gives users access to professional legal advice that is easy to understand. LegalZoom’s roster of vetted legal professionals can serve as a source on everything from wills to intellectual property. LegalZoom has made it a priority to invest in its employees. Chris Capriccio, the company’s senior director of engineering and mobile, said that professional development has been the most rewarding perk.
What’s your number one favorite perk or benefit your company offers, and why?
The best perk we offer is a strong training budget. Personal development is important at LegalZoom and is taken seriously at all levels. Each of us is given a healthy budget to help develop into the next role. This may be related to a subject like tech, finance, marketing, etc. or personal development via leadership courses. Often times LZ will bring training coaches and seminars on site, making it even easier for us to attend.
Personal development is important at LegalZoom and is taken seriously at all levels.”
What’s the most underrated (but awesome) perk your company offers?
Our offices in Austin and Glendale have really great gym facilities. These are full gyms with showers and towel service. Leadership here understands that happiness at work includes not only mental stimulation but also physical.
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