Companies offer a variety of perks and benefits to attract the right talent into their business. After all, the workers are one of the most valuable assets a business can have, so it’s worth making sure that they feel happy and productive both in and out of the workplace.

Unfortunately, some employers seem to have a different idea about what makes their staff feel truly appreciated. Reddit user Chocolat3City asked fellow r/AntiWork members: “What’s the most insulting ‘benefit’ a job has offered you?” and the thread spread fast, with more than 26.2K people finding it relevant.

Whether it’s a free uniform, personal protective equipment or lunch, stories that people shared seem to be serving the employer, not the employee. Take a look at some of the best answers we collected from the thread and be sure to share your experience in the comment section below.

#1

“Free Parking” at my workplace.

My thinking is that if it’s something that only helps me access my workplace (which I wouldn’t need but for the job), it’s a “benefit” to my employer, not me.

It’s kind of like allowing the custodian access to an elevator of the high-rise building where he works, and calling it a “benefit.” I think not.

Image credits: Chocolat3City

#2

I have no maternity leave and hr told me that’s the benefit of working remote – I can just watch my baby while I work.

Image credits: chrisant4345

#3

A pinball machine and pool table for use on breaks that people got shamed for using.

Image credits: gmotsimurgh

#4

Free personal protective equipment. Literally required to be provided by the employer too.

Image credits: Accomplished-Pen-69

#5

Pretending pizza is a 10k salary increase or anything significant

Image credits: TaticalSweater

#6

Windows. (The kind you look through, not the OS.)

Image credits: Upbeat_Crow

#7

Company listed “withholding taxes” as a benefit. You know, the thing that they’re legally obligated to do as an employer. Still laugh at that one.

Image credits: Sad_Efficiency_1067

#8

Silly socks day. To make up for the increase in abuse from patients (start of COVID). Thanks, my mental health is… great.

Image credits: smolpidge

#9

“You get to work with kids!”

My job description was ALSO my benefits…

Image credits: SteadfastFox

#10

Retail worker. As a reward for working through the Pandemic, the toilet paper crisis, not getting our pay for another 4 weeks and having one of our colleagues die of covid unexpectedly…

A box of 6 capri sun. There are 8 of us.

Image credits: CompetitiveHabit5

#11

The “stress management apps”.

Image credits: GaolangWongsawat

#12

They set up an online store for us to purchase company merch with and then offered everyone I think 20 or 30 in credit, which would have been nice if the cheapest thing wasn’t $65 plus tax and shipping

Image credits: dontforgettheglitter

#13

I was working at a high-end furniture showroom just as I was graduating. I was getting paid 8.5€/h (in Slovenia), I was 24, and I was offered a 10% discount on 15,000 € kitchens.

Image credits: roksraka

#14

Free uniform.

Image credits: LongjumpingMess9248

#15

The 45 minute commute each way as a “great way to prepare for the day and de-stress when you go home.”

What the f**k man.

Image credits: RhodyChief

#16

A couple of years ago I was offered a cell phone from 2006, with its according thick antenna. They gave it to me when I asked for a cell phone to call company customers. I worked in sales.

Image credits: Ney-La

#17

JEANS DAY

Image credits: ts9808

#18

Free lunch every day.

Sounds great but let me explain.

I started a job some years ago and one of the benefits they sold us on was that they bought us lunch everyday. Each day, they would take our orders in the late morning to have lunch delivered by lunchtime. We only ever ordered from like 2 or 3 places but hey, it was free. Cool. Great.

But the problem was when I tried to do anything other than sit at my desk and eat. After a couple weeks, I started leaving my place of work for lunch here and there just to run errands, have a phone convo with family/friends/gf, or just eat by myself at a restaurant (the food they ordered wasn’t bad but it got old quick).

After having done this a few times, my manager stopped me one day and asked where I was going and why I sometimes leave. I replied “I’m Going on lunch.” He told me that the whole point of them ordering lunch for us was so we could eat at our desks while we continued to work. I was shocked lol. I asked him if he understood how lunch breaks worked in relation to the law and that he can’t keep me hostage, especially since I’m not being paid for being there during that hour. He then passively aggressively said “okay do what you want I guess”.

Image credits: djaypete

#19

In a plastics factory where you’re lifting 100+ pound iron molding pieces repetitively, they actually had the balls to point to a gym area that was “open to all employees”. They couldn’t figure out why only the office people ever used it.

Image credits: anonymous67348

#20

I cried at work and was offered a “normalize crying at work” sticker.

Didn’t seem to help.

Image credits: dumbgayidiot

#21

“Experience”

You can get experience from a colonoscopy. Doesn’t mean you’re going to be able to use or monetize that experience outside of the paradigm within which you acquired said experience. And that’s assuming you wanted the experience in the first place.

Image credits: Careful_Chemical9749

#22

I had an employer that offered discounted tickets (theme parks, sporting events, concerts, etc) through a third-party website. The website charged a service fee that made the tickets the same price or sometimes more expensive than if you bought them through traditional methods.

Image credits: use_da_schwartz_

#23

Overtime. Yes it was listed in the job description as a benefit.

Image credits: hdost34

#24

I was working in a brand new Amazon warehouse. On payday they had people standing at the exits (which were right past the metal detectors you had to go through) handing out Payday candy bars. I just wanted to scream at this insult. Instead I just cried in my car.

Image credits: bootsy72

#25

A ‘wobble room’. Basically a room where it was okay to go and have a little cry/freak out/meltdown if you got overwhelmed at work.

Instead of, you know, attempting to address the reasons why people were crying/freaking out/melting down at work…and then you were expected back front and centre for the rest of your shift.

Image credits: ruthh-r

#26

This is a discussion I had with my previous employer before I accepted their offer letter, discussing compensation:

Me: I’m used to my annual bonus being a significant portion of my total compensation, what’s your bonus structure look like?

Them: We don’t make specific commitments, it depends on company performance and your annual review.

Me: Sure, I get that, but I need to know a general ballpark. Is 8-12% in the general range that I should usually expect to see?

Them: Yes

I didn’t get it in writing, because I’m a dumbass.

Sign on, work a few months, Christmas/ New Year’s comes around. HR hands out bonuses. I open my envelope to find a $10 gift card to a local grocery store.

Figure “I’ve only been here a few months, maybe I’m not eligible for bonus yet, oh well”.

Next year comes around, and it’s another $10 gift card for the grocery store.

Started applying for new jobs that day.

Image credits: IAmVladimirPutinAMA

#27

You will see the world. I’ve been in the Navy almost 5 years, and haven’t left the U.S.

#28

$25 metro card once a month, which was only one week worth of commuting. And this was at a law firm.

#29

Company branded tennis shoes for Christmas. When am I ever going to want to wear tennis shoes that are company colors and have the logo of a hospital on them? They’re against dress code at work too lol.

#30

Previous employer was a cinema. The ONLY perk was free cinema tickets. Because returning to work on your days off is a delight.

#31

Company sweater (meant as uniform) but given as a new year’s “gift”.

#32

We were each allotted £2 a head to spend on lunch, once a month. With a dozen or so of us in the office, we’d pool it together and get 3-4 pizzas 🙁

#33

One year we got ikea Candle holders. The cheapest available. My Boss bought himself a new Porsche. They still wonder why so many ppl (incl me) quit the following year.

#34

15% tuition reimbursement if you promise to stay 5 years beyond graduation lmao

If not, gotta pay us back in full or else we withhold your final paycheck as well as tax documents 🙂

Edit: 15% tuition reimbursement for job related majors.

“We really want our employees to grow into the best versions of themselves… If and only if it helps us along the way :)”

#35

Guaranteed hours, as if that’s not bare minimum.

#36

A Rice Krispie Treat for working through the Pandemic. They MAILED it to me.

#37

Guaranteed I’d never be required to work overtime, evenings, or on weekends.

Sounds great until you find out that means 50 hours of work still need to get done in 40 hours.

#38

Pizza on fridays in the break room.

But it’s also a Bible study.

#39

Casual Fridays. We’re a tech business with no customer visits, why can’t every day be casual?

#40

I asked for a raise after two years, and been told: « When’s your birthday ? July? I offer you that you go at the restaurant with your family, and send me the bill » Never felt that insulted to be honest

#41

Not necessarily a benefit, just something they thought could benefit their workers. They had a sleep specialist come in and talk to us about the importance of getting to bed at the same time every night. Talking to 300+ people who work a rotating shift. We worked a different shift every week so our sleep schedules were in constant flux. I rotated for 7 years, my dad did it for 17. It’s hard on the body. Thankfully the plant is on locked shifts now and I’m straight days.

#42

‘Free fruit Fridays’ which turned out to be a bunch of bruised apples in the same old cardboard box every week :/

#43

Unpaid sick leave (I’m not in the US so this was quite outrageous )

#44

PTO as follows: Hired start with zero days. Accrue one day per YEAR up to five days after 5 or more years worked.

Image credits: eross52

#45

Weekend events, xmas parties.
Like I want to spend my personal time with work people…?

Image credits: shapeofthings

#46

I worked at McDonald’s as a teen and they only offered a 50% discount so long as you purchased two meals…so basically “you get half off but only if you buy twice as much”. Unless you brought a friend, it wasn’t really a discount. Also, no shift meals despite their food costs being literal pennies.

#47

In 1994, I worked at a video store for $3.25/hr. Minimum wage was $4.25 at the time but I was told it was legal because I got one free rental per shift.

#48

The horrible Keurig machine.

#49

Bakery- we get 50% off miniature cupcakes only, no other baked goods.

#50

A mandatory party where we were…aggressively encouraged to participate in activities like dance offs. Who doesn’t love mandatory fun?

#51

Company listed “healthcare benefits” in their job description. I was SO excited because I was uninsured at the time. I asked about it at orientation and the manager hands me a pamphlet with a coupon for a reduced cost clinic for uninsured people in a city 60 miles away. Awesome.

#52

“Fun” trainings at the weekend with lunch paid for.

#53

“Making a difference in the world”

#54

10 days PTO that you had to take on 10 specific dates, but they made it out like it was a huge favor to me.

#55

Bear with me, but it was a “game room.”

It was actually a nice setup: table tennis, a few cabinets, and every console of the day.

The only problem was that anybody that actually used it during working hours was judged incredibly harshly. Like, it showed up in performance reviews. I think the hope was that it would drive people to play after hours and maybe eke a bit of extra work out of them. All of us just wanted to GTFO of the fluorescent-lit prison we’d just spent 8-9 hours in.

#56

Contact stated “flexible hours”, but I was pulled aside and rinsed by a colleague and one of the company directors when I turned up at 9.30am on my second day.

It turned out that their interpretation of “flexible” went the other direction – you had to be in the office 9-5 plus at least 2 hours a day to “show your commitment”.

Image credits: InvisiblePhil

#57

We got a free meal out of the “run off goods” for our lunch every day. It was literally

“we can’t sell this, it’s literally worthless to us. Say thank you”

Image credits: MurrayMan92

#58

3 free mental health counseling sessions.

As if I will pour out all my s**t on-site, in the office to a counselor who is associated with my employer. Doctor patient confidentiality my a**.

#59

I work retail and if we catch people doing certain sneaky things (switching price tags, nesting items, miss matching sets, etc) we get a “bonus” of $1.25. They push it so hard, and right now it’s “DOUBLE CIPs!!” like $2.50 is going to make up for the fact that I make minimum wage.

#60

Food stamp eligibility. They paid so little that they listed government assistance as a BENEFIT.

#61

A $1.50 raise over the span of 4 years.

Image credits: CFBombshock93

#62

At one point, management would make the rounds Friday’s and collect $5 from everyone wearing jeans for upper management pet charity. I figured screw this, I dress like Jake from State Farm every other day.

#63

Friday bagel club: Sign up and you get bagels every Friday. When it’s your turn, you have to buy (and pick up) bagels for everyone in bagel club

Just to add, by the time I lift, bagel had probably 50+ members, that’s a lot of bagels to carry. I felt so bad for people who commuted to work without a car.

#64

Lunch and Learn.

Bring your own lunch but come sit in this room so we can learn you some s**t while you eat. Basically a voluntary mid-shift detention.

#65

I worked in a jail. I got to have free food made by the inmates. It was the same food they were fed, which, in my opinion met the criteria of cruel and unusual punishment.

#66

A space heater that my boss yells at me whenever I turn on.

#67

Free Coffee* and other drinks!**

*we can’t use the professional coffee machine that’s used for making Lattes, Cappuccinos or Irish Coffees. We have to use the jar of instant coffee.

**The ‘other drinks’ are tea and squash. Not hot chocolate.

The only coffee I can drink without feeling ill is a mocha.

#68

One week of vacation time, and $150 credit for health insurance we had to get ourselves.

#69

10k towards fertility services. I’m childfree.

#70

Worked understaffed for half a year. End of the year came and instead of a bonus/raise, I got a $100 Starbucks gift card.

I don’t drink coffee.

#71

It wasn’t a benefit offered at employment, but at one of my first jobs I hated the job and wasn’t the best employee. The pay was terrible, the conditions were terrible. I called in a lot and it upset my boss and his boss (understandably). But I was good at the job, and they felt it’d be tough to find someone else who would put up with those conditions so they kept me.

During a yearly evaluation, negotiating an insignificant pay raise, i mentioned that i wasn’t able to pay my bills and if I couldn’t get full-time status with this insignificant pay raise and the vacation days/healthcare that came with it, i had no choice but to get a different job. My boss was understanding so he passed my concerns to his boss. His boss said “He won’t be able to work anywhere else. No one else will give him the leniency we do with absenteeism.” You know… instead of realizing there might be a problem that needs addressing if your employee never wants to be at work.

So their “offer” in lieu of decent pay or conditions was instead to continue letting me be depressed and call in a lot with minimal backlash. I got a different job making 3.5x the wage and started paying bills and stopped missing work.

#72

We get a holiday party for 6 people with a budget of 40 dollars…

#73

My coworkers who have been at this company for 20 years, one relocated three times for the job. They got a $20 gift card and a pamphlet of all the items they can pay for to get at a discount. One thing was a dryer vent. That was about the only good thing in there.

#74

A coworker of mine had an office upgrade in lieu of an actual raise. He went from a cubicle to a closed office with a door mind you!

#75

Record your exercise activity in an app every friggin day in order to get $100 off the cost of your health insurance. Not worth my time and breach of privacy to save what works out to be < $10 month.

#76

They got rid of it… but the month before our annual wellness incentive (if you scored in the ranges they were happy about you got $$$) we’d suddenly have catered high calorie meals and cake.

Now they just ask us to have a doc signed by a physician stating we had a physical and they give us the $$$

#77

Free soda while working.

#78

One day off a year to work for the charity of your choice.

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