The best work perks in adland: part two

Mental health, work-life balance, and financial security are key to a happy life – and employees are increasingly shouldering some of the responsibility for providing this.

We asked a number of agencies what perks they are offering their staff in order to keep them happy, healthy, and hired. Below is part two of the staff perks revealed by these agencies to Mumbrella – listed in alphabetical order for fairness and ease. If you missed part one, read it here.

 Akcelo

Akcelo made a major investment in a new office space in Sydney’s creative hub of Redfern after the pandemic, in an effort to ensure staff have a collaborative space to work from.

“This was done in an effort to promote collaboration and create an environment that employees choose to come to, versus being forced to attend,” explained CEO Aden Hepburn.

“At the heart of this model is our client-partners, with the office designed to bring our clients in to co-create in real time. And at the heart of the building is the enormous kitchen island, designed to bring everyone together at meal times and for social events.”

The company operates under flexible working hours, and allows working from home each Wednesday, with an early 2pm knock-off each second week. Staff can also work from “any exotic location within a three hour time zone of the office” for two weeks a year.

Akcelo also offers 20 weeks of paid maternity leave for primary carers, plus four weeks of paid leave for partners.

This all pales in comparison to the biggest perk – the annual company ski-trip, where the company pays for accommodation for employees and their partners to attend a four-day trip to Queenstown, New Zealand.

“The company also pays for multiple evening meals and social occasions,” Hepburn explains.

“It’s a great way to encourage a break from the day-to-day routine, and builds team spirit without forcing it. Everyone is there to have a good time, not talk shop, and blow off a bit of steam.”

Amplify

It’s officially known as Amplify Online, but as Alex Reid, the agency’s director admits, it’s “essentially a paid holiday” for staff.

“Spanning Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, the Amplify team unites for an all-expenses-paid getaway to Bali.

“The four-day retreat is more than just a vacation; it’s an opportunity for the team to break-borders and strengthen collaborations.

Reid says the getaway consists of “engaging team-building activities, complemented by purposeful work sessions. Amidst sun lounges and collaborative sessions, we prioritise showing our team that their contributions are valued beyond their professional roles.”

Connecting Plots

Connecting Plots does ’employee of the month’ a little differently.

The three owners purchased a property in the Central Coast back in 2019 and, each month, the nominated MVP scores a long weekend away to rest and recuperate at the Copacabana beach house (pictured above).

“It’s great for morale and people really get behind the nominations,” says co-founder Dave Jansen.

“We work bloody hard – after a busy stint at work, sometimes the perfect reset is a change of scenery or a chance to blow off steam with friends and family.”

Hopeful Monsters

Hopeful Monsters says it has a simple approach. “When you join Hopeful Monsters, you invest in us. So we invest in you.”

The agency launched its School of Hopeful Monsters, a dedicated training program that “encourages the sharing and discovery of inspirational content and wisdom, rewarding people with perks for their contribution via monthly individual prizes, cultural days out of the office, and an exclusive trip to SXSW Austin for the annual winner.”

The company also offers a flexible starting time (between 7.30am and 10am), a work from anywhere policy, and paid parental leave.

Every Wednesday the team learns a new sport together, wellbeing workshops, and extra days annual leave, as well as a culture club with sessions “celebrating the diversity of our team backgrounds”.

Best of all, if they hit budget, the entire team is taken on an overseas trip. “Last year it was Fiji. Where to next?”

MiQ

Office routine is three days a week, Tuesday and Wednesday, and a flexible third day, determined by staff, with their managers.

There is no 8:30 meetings in the office. “We structure the days so as not to force people back into a rush hour commute,” the company tells Mumbrella.

January and August are work from anywhere months, providing “increased flexibility over the summer, globally.”

All employees who add a new child to their home receive six months paid leave — base and bonus — with additional support given to both the employee and to the manager to “make the experience as positive as possible.”

This policy applies to all new parents, regardless of whether they are the birthing parent or if the child comes into the home through fostering, adoption or surrogacy. All employees are encouraged to take their first week returning to work at 50% hours to ease back into their position, and take time for return to work-coaching, “which is provided to also ease the journey back to work life.”

The company also offers a generous commission scheme.

“Every employee earns a share of our gross profit each month in the form of commission, not just sales. Whilst the amount varies based on role we wanted to provide all employees with a sense of having skin in the game.

“We also have an open policy to allow dogs in the office, and on most office days, you will find a furry friend to keep you company. We provide five weeks of annual leave a year. Private health insurance is included for all employees and their family through Bupa, at the highest level of coverage.

“Each office is stocked with unlimited snacks, tea, and coffee, and we provide a relaxed office space with music, and a relaxed dress code.

“Lastly, each year we host a ‘Unite’ week where all employees are gathered together, for a few days of festivities, inspirational speakers, and the opportunity to take part in driving the future direction of the business.”

The Company We Keep

Marie Donn, the head of people and culture at The Company We Keep, tells Mumbrella its focus is on the team’s well-being. “Teamwork is the beating heart of The CWK’s approach, and it recognises that creating exceptional live and virtual experiences worldwide demands a special group effort.”

To this end, the company gives staff birthdays off, the ability to work from anywhere, at anytime, and wellness days each months.

“Whether the team are on a beach, under the doona, or squeezing a few more downward dogs in at yoga, our wellness days are an important benefit to further make sure that the team rest, recoup and live life too.

The Pistol

“As a business, we’ve always valued work-life balance and the need to provide a positive, safe and understanding environment for our staff,” explains The Pistol’s business director, Jules Brahe.

“We’re firm believers that by fostering a workplace where staff can work where, when and how they want to, you create an environment for staff to truly excel. We’ve made a commitment to prioritising the wellbeing of our team, with wellness programs, loyalty leave and generous paid parental leave; we know we get the best out of our people when we create a fun, supportive team culture, free of the toxic hustle.”

To this end, The Pistol offers all staff 12 weeks paid parental leave, which can be taken by either carer at any time. For example, they could take one week a month over 12 months.

Other perks include ‘wellness Wednesday’, where staff participate in a different fitness activity each week, everything from yoga to cycle or TRX, and ‘free coffee Tuesdays’, where the team heads to the local café. Staff can work from anywhere four weeks a year; team members have used this to go home to Malaysia and spend extended time with family, whilst still working.

Finally, for every year of service, staff accrue an additional day of annual leave.

Pivotus

Pivotus gives $50 per staff on a debit card every month to spend on anything to aid their working-from home, anything from pens to pizza. This is doubled during their birth month and work anniversary month. There is also an international company trip every two years.

WiredCo

As mentioned in the introduction to part one of this series, WiredCo has introduced two paid days of “fur baby” leave, with the option for staff to work from home for up to two weeks when getting a pet.

They also offer five days of paid leave for employees undergoing IVF treatment, and two days of leave for their support person. In the event of a miscarriage or stillbirth, employees can take two and four weeks of paid leave respectively.

Employees returning to work can also take up to ten keeping-in-touch days, when transitioning back to work. Employees will also have access to unlimited counselling throughout their parental leave, and are entitled to $500 meal vouchers.

—