3 Colorado Companies Offering Unusual Employee Benefits

by Janey Zitomer
September 19, 2019

Dom Pérignon and André are both champagne, but most people would agree you can taste the difference. In the same way, all company employee benefits are not created equal. While you don’t normally complain about a bottle of champagne sent to the table – no matter the label – you’re hoping for the Dom.  

That said, quality benefits don’t have to be flashy or sexy to create an impact. They have to address an underserved need. We spoke to three Colorado companies that offer unusual, top-quality benefits ranging from learning development and personal growth mentorship programs to free health insurance plans. They told us why their employees love them and how they reflect their core values.

Colorado Companies Offering Unusual Perks

  • Healthgrades: Mentor Circle Program
  • Booyah Advertising: Free Health Insurance Plan
  • Wishlist: Birthdays and Work Anniversaries are rewarded with out-of-the-box experiences
Healthgrades team building
photo via healthgrades

 

In a recent company survey, Healthgrades employees asked for more development opportunities. And leadership listened. They now host a mentor circle program where senior team members are matched with employees throughout the business to facilitate dynamic conversations. Talent Acquisition Partner Loren Gassaway, Learning and Development Manager Nat Brown, and HR Business Partner and Benefits Manager Kaci Martens gave us the full scoop. 

 

What’s a really unique perk or benefit your company offers? Why does your company offer this perk?

Healthgrades is now starting our third year of the mentor circle program, which has grown from a small pilot group to having one in every Healthgrades office. Instead of a typical one-on-one mentor relationship, employees and senior leaders learn from one another and walk away from each group discussion with multiple perspectives. Each session is a facilitated conversation with prompts and small activities to build new skills, share wisdom, and forge a community based on trust and transparency.

We began to offer the program because of employee feedback from our engagement survey. Our employees wanted more development opportunities and more visibility to see and been seen by senior leaders. 

We began to offer the program because of employee feedback from our engagement survey.’’

 

What are some of the ways your employees take advantage of this perk?

Mentees meet with the mentor circle group monthly and book appointments individually with the senior leaders throughout the six months of the program. Mentor circle cohorts become close quickly, and groups often get lunch together, collaborate more efficiently on projects, and use one another as soundboards during stressful work seasons.

A mentor from the program told us that “the themes in each of the sessions encourage creative thinking and introspection. I feel that hearing what’s important to the employees has helped me become a better manager. I believe these personal connections have led to better collaboration between teams in our office and an increase in work satisfaction among the participants.”

 

Booyah Advertising company outing
photo via booyah advertising

While Booyah Advertising’s company perks include a game room and beer on tap, the benefit that they're most proud of is more substantial. Employees want quality healthcare and the comfort of knowing if an when they get sick or need a lifeline, their employer’s arm will be outstretched. According to Account Director Kaitlin Williams, when it comes to assistance of that nature, the full-service digital agency delivers. 
 

What’s a really unique perk or benefit your company offers? Why does your company offer this perk?

We are extremely proud to offer a free health insurance plan to all full-time employees. While this isn’t the sexiest perk, it is one of the most costly and important benefits we offer because we believe that good health is important to happy and productive lives.

We are extremely proud to offer a free health insurance plan to all full-time employees.’’

 

What are some of the ways your employees take advantage of this perk?

When I was recently in a car accident, I had a ton of medical bills. Our no-cost health insurance plan, coupled with our unlimited PTO policy, allowed me to get the best medical care and take the time I needed to fully recover, with minimal financial burden. 

 

Wishlist team
wishlist rewards

When your company is dedicated to curating the experience of meaningful gift-giving, offering unique employee benefits shouldn’t be too tough. And for Wishlist, it’s not. They offer their team experiences straight from their user-facing menu curated gift sets. 

Why buy your cousin, roommate or neighbor another coffee table book they’ll never open when you can get them private surf lessons? That’s pretty much their motto.
 

What’s a really unique perk or benefit your company offers? Why does your company offer this perk?

One of the unique opportunities of being in the rewards and recognition space is the ability to define the standard of employee benefits and perks. Organizations look to us for ideas and inspiration regarding how to attract and retain talent in addition to building a unique and strong culture. What’s unique about our employee benefits? We offer what we build.  

Nothing creates a connection like a shared story and lifelong memory. When our employees (and clients) achieve a work anniversary or performance reward, they get to select from thousands of world-class experiences; all facilitated through our own platform. Think cage diving with sharks, driving a Ferrari, dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant or even a weekend yoga retreat.  

Nothing creates a connection like a shared story and lifelong memory.’’

 

What are some of the ways your employees take advantage of this perk?

We’ve seen employees use their reward on adventures like a trip to Europe, seeing Sir Elton John in concert, taking a two-day certification in ice climbing, and investing in personal career coaching with a Fortune 500 executive. All we ask in return is that employees take a picture of themselves on their experience so we can hang it in our office.  

 

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