Vault: What's Your Biggest Perk At Work?

Summary

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The Bert Show – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Vault: What's Your Biggest Perk At Work?
Date: March 4, 2026

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Overview

This episode of The Bert Show is centered around a lively discussion on the best—and most envy-inducing—work perks that listeners and show members have ever encountered. Against the backdrop of economic cutbacks, the hosts invite callers to share stories of companies that are still going strong with employee benefits. The mood is upbeat, humorous, and relatable, with a focus on employee well-being and authenticity in the workplace.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Decline of Workplace Perks in Tough Economic Times

• Hosts discuss how many companies are reducing or eliminating traditional perks and benefits due to economic pressures.
• Introduction of the topic: “We are in an economy now in which companies are just cutting back left and right... Like, in some ways, benefits are gone, cutting back on vacation time and stuff like that.” (Host 2, 00:53)

2. Unbelievable Perks from Well-Known Companies

• Motley Fool: Unlimited Paid Vacation and More

  • Employees can “take as much vacation time as you want. It's paid.” (Host 2, 02:17)
  • Other perks include $400 in prepared food for new parents, regular access to athletic facilities, and free tutoring or school consulting for employees’ children.
  • No dress code—employees can wear whatever they want.

• Google: Free Gourmet Food and Creative Freedom

  • Free meals at an in-house, Whole Foods-style cafeteria open all day and night.
  • Flexible work hours, especially for creative teams.
  • The famed “20% project rule,” encouraging employees to spend one day per week on side projects:
    “Another Google perk is, I think it's 20% of your time... You’re allowed to devote to any projects that you are working on.” (Host 3, 05:26)
  • Notable product example: The Gmail attachment reminder, born out of a side project.

3. Listener Call-Ins: Real-World Perks Across Industries

• Netmill Partners (Caller: Chris, 06:36)

  • Catered lunches, gas stipends (which have increased, not decreased), expanded benefits and vacation, and monthly company outings.

• Sheer Miller Communications (Caller: Erica, 07:26)

  • Quarterly massages, monthly team “fun days” (lunch, bowling, movies), all on paid company time.
    “We actually close the office. We don’t tell everyone that we close the office, but our office is actually closed for that day.” (Caller/Erica, 08:02)

• Selig Enterprises (Host 3 retelling, 08:25)

  • Whole-company surprise vacation—employees given clues over the year and then flown out (with family/significant others) for an all-expenses-paid trip to Colorado.

• Independent Nanny (Caller: Stacey, 09:40)

  • Employer provides a credit card for gas—even for personal use in some cases—acknowledging the importance of small comforts.

• CNN/Turner Broadcasting (Caller: Heather, 10:41)

  • 33 days off per year, annual raises, generous discounts (furniture, electronics, entertainment tickets for local attractions and events), four-day workweek to offset transportation costs.
    “I have the most awesome job in the world. I work for CNN, Turner Broadcasting... I get 33 days off a year. We get raises every year. We get discounts from everything from furniture to electronics to entertainment.” (Caller/Heather, 10:43)

• Pfizer (Caller: Anastasia, 11:51)

  • Company car with gas card, five weeks of paid vacation, expense accounts that cover internet and cell phone bills.
    “I get five weeks a year vacation and I have an expense account—they cover like my Internet, my cell phone too.” (Caller/Anastasia, 12:01)

4. The Value of Autonomy and Workplace Happiness

• Hosts reflect on how these perks foster loyalty, productivity, and genuine happiness at work.
• “If you are meeting your numbers, who cares how you’re meeting them? Spend the time the way you want.” (Host 2, 10:14)
• The importance of company culture and treating employees like adults:
  “You spend most of your life at work. Companies should really try to make it an environment where an employee wants to be there.” (Host 1, 12:29)

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Unlimited Paid Vacation:
  “Take as much vacation time as you want. It's paid. What do you want—three weeks, you want five weeks. It's all paid vacation.” (Host 2, 02:17)

• On Employee Autonomy:
  “If you are meeting your numbers and you are meeting what we consider a successful number, do whatever else you want.” (Host 2, 10:14)

• Gmail Side Project Origin:
  “The guy came up with it on his own because he always did that... And the guy came up with it on his own.” (Host 3, 06:19)

• CNN/Turner Broadcasting Perks:
  “We get free tickets for the Hawks, for The Braves, for the Thrashers... I mean, I can go on. I love my job.” (Caller/Heather, 10:56)

• Work Should Be Enjoyable:
  “You spend most of your life at work. So, I mean, companies should really try to make it an environment where an employee wants to be there.” (Host 1, 12:29)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | Highlight | |------------|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:53 | Economic climate and loss of perks | Setting up the topic | | 02:02 | Motley Fool benefits overview | Unlimited vacation, food for new parents, casual attire | | 04:28 | Google workplace perks | Gourmet food, creative freedom, 20% project time | | 06:36 | Chris (Netmill Partners) call | Catered lunch, gas stipends, outings, increased time off | | 07:26 | Erica (Sheer Miller Communications) call | Massages, monthly fun days, closing the office | | 08:25 | Selig Enterprises story | Surprise company vacation | | 09:40 | Stacey (Nanny) call | Gas card for personal and work use | | 10:41 | Heather (CNN/Turner Broadcasting) call | 33 days off, discounts, 4-day workweek | | 11:51 | Anastasia (Pfizer) call | Company car and gas, five weeks’ vacation, expense acct. | | 12:29 | Hosts on life & job satisfaction | Companies should foster a positive environment |

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Tone and Closing Thoughts

The tone throughout the episode is conversational, inclusive, and playful—hosts josh with each other and listeners, but deeper points about work-life balance and employee autonomy shine through. The episode acts as both a celebration of rare, awesome workplace perks and a subtle critique of the companies moving in the opposite direction, encouraging listeners (and perhaps employers) to rethink what makes work enjoyable and productive.

Final Takeaway:
Great perks aren't just about fancy benefits—they're about fostering a culture of respect, autonomy, and genuine employee satisfaction.

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Transcript

[Host 1]

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[Host 2]

Until the season changes and suddenly you lose your motivation to get out of bed. In fact, one in five people experience some form of depression no matter the season or time of year.

[Host 1]

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[Host 2]

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[Host 1]

nation for all because we want you

[Host 2]

to live your best life and be your best you all year round. Please visit mentallyhealthynation.org to learn more. The Birch show we are in a, we're in an economy now in which companies are just cutting back left and right. You could certainly understand why. I mean it sucks for everybody right now. I would really like to hear or we would really like to hear from some of you guys that are still working for companies that have decided to sort of like see it through and haven't changed company policy and are still offering the same perks now that they were a couple of years ago. Like so many companies are cutting back now. Like in some ways benefits are gone, cutting back on vacation time and stuff like that.

[Host 1]

But there are very expenses things that you would be able to turn in on your expense report before I know now are not admissible for a lot of my friends.

[Host 2]

I want you guys to make us jealous of some of the perks that you still have. 404-741-Q100 My friend Aaron works up in Washington, D.C. for Motley fool, which is a website that gives you financial advice.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 2]

And the last time she was down here, she was telling me some of the stuff that Motley fool still provides for their employees. And I went online to take a look at it. And the stories of this place and the benefits that they still give their employees are crazy. Take as much vacation time as you want. It's paid.

[Host 3]

Wow.

[Host 2]

Take as much. What do you want three weeks? You won't. You want five weeks. It's all paid vacation. So long as you are contributing to the bottom line and doing it in a successful way, they don't care how much vacation time you take.

[Host 1]

Now does that mean nobody's keeping tabs on it.

[Host 2]

Nobody. You have to tell them. You have to say, look, I'm taking this week off so they know you're alive.

[Host 1]

Right.

[Host 2]

But they won't say no. They'll take a look at how much you're bringing into the company and. And if you are meeting their financial goals. Yeah, yeah, that's cool. Sure, go ahead.

[Host 1]

Wow.

[Host 2]

You want six weeks off? We'll pay for it.

[Host 1]

That's awesome.

[Host 2]

There's way more than that.

[Host 1]

It would make you want to work harder.

[Host 2]

That's their. That's their philosophy on it.

[Host 3]

And you probably take less vacation. I don't want to get. I have a friend who. I don't want to get him in trouble because I. But I'm almost sure he told me for his senior managers, he owns his own company here in town. He does the same thing and he finds that people actually, well, you know, for the first couple years, we'll take less vacation. And then once they get into the groove, he's like, people are taking six, seven, eight years, eight weeks of vacation a year. And it improves their. Because they're doing it right in Europe. You know, what is it, August that

[Host 2]

they shut down or September just for the whole month. We're on vacation, we're on holiday.

[Host 3]

He goes, it makes such a big difference because people will bust their ass for two or three months and then disappear for a week or two and recharge and come back and do it again.

[Host 2]

The Motley fool UP in Washington, D.C. gives $400 in delivered prepared food for new parents. Wow. So if you have to take some time off and tend to the newborn.

[Host 1]

So instead of making you feel bad

[Host 2]

for having a baby and not being at the company because of it, they actually, you know, make you feel better about it.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Weekly time on a local basketball court for activities including basketball, soccer, yoga, and tai chi. Part time with a school consultant to discuss options for your children.

[Host 1]

School consultant?

[Host 2]

Yeah. So if, like, your kids aren't doing great in school or what have you, they will provide tutors for the kids.

[Host 1]

That is cool, isn't it?

[Host 2]

Really, really awesome.

[Host 1]

That is so cool.

[Host 2]

And she says, everybody there, they don't wear suits. There's no ties, there's no pants suits. You can wear whatever you want at the place. A lot of times online companies tend to do that. Sometimes I think low key.

[Host 1]

Well, infamously, Google is an amazing company to work for. And a friend of a friend of mine works for Google in New York. And we were just up there visiting and I had brunch with her and she was talking about the cafeteria that they have. It's basically like a gourmet. Whole Foods is their employee cafeteria and everything. And it's free. Like you never pay for food when you go there. So breakfast, lunch, dinner, whatever it is that you want, whatever it is that you need, they'll make gourmet salads, sandwiches, whatever. It's all free. And she says that a lot of people will come to work and like they don't have set hours or anything either. A lot of people, especially in the creative department of Google, will come in around 10 and then they all like play like Guitar Hero and Rock Band and whatever. And then about like four or five o' clock in the afternoon is when they really get busy and start working. And they'll be working till 2 or 3 in the morning. So this like cafeteria place is open all night. There's like all those fancy like juices and everything that you can only find at Whole Foods. They have it there. All of it just open to you have whatever you want.

[Host 3]

Another Google perk is, I think it's 20% of your time, which works out to be one full workday. You're allowed to devote to any projects that you are working on. So you work there five days a week, but one day you can work on whatever you want. It doesn't have to be your specific task as long as Google shares in the ownership of it. So people have come up and like random stuff too. Like I have always talked to you guys about Gmail and the Google products and everything. Big fan. And they have something they just came up with that is a. How many times do you send an email to someone and go, hey Jeff, take a look at this picture that Stacy took of you and I at the event the other night. Burt, you send it and you forget to attach the picture.

[Host 1]

Say it.

[Host 2]

Oops, sorry. Here's the picture.

[Host 3]

Yep. But it reads your email and if it looks like something is supposed to be attached and it isn't, a warning pops up and says the context of your email says something's supposed to be attached.

[Host 2]

Oh, no kidding.

[Host 1]

Wow.

[Host 3]

A guy designed that on his own because he always did that. Like he would always send pictures. I famous for doing that.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 3]

Hey, take a look at the spreadsheet and tell me if everything looks right. Ah. Then my next email, the subject line is always dough because I forget it every time. It's the coolest thing. And the guy came up with it on his own.

[Host 2]

Hey Chris, tell us about the perk that we'll be jealous of.

[Caller/Guest]

Yes. I work for netmill Partners. They still. They cater in lunches still. They give us gas stipends each week. They haven't cut that back. They've actually increased that for us. You know, they've increased our benefits. Time off. They've increased our time off. We have monthly with the company.

[Host 2]

What was the last thing you said?

[Caller/Guest]

I said that we have monthly outings with the company.

[Host 2]

Monthly outings with the company.

[Caller/Guest]

Also, they pay for them, so, you know, they pay for everything. So, I mean, they still. They haven't cut back in anything.

[Host 1]

Well, it's good to hear companies that

[Host 2]

some are suffering like others, some are still paying for, like, employees. They all take them on, like, a big old group vacation together, you know? Well, that's 12, 15 of us. Let's all go. We're paying for everything. Don't worry about it. Good morning, Erica. You're on Q100. Hi.

[Caller/Guest]

Hi. How are you guys?

[Host 2]

Good. How are you?

[Host 1]

Jealous. Good.

[Host 2]

Your company, are they. They're still offering the same perks now that they were?

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah. I work for Sheer Miller Communications, and one of our coolest things is we get a quarterly massage. And every month we have a fun day where we go out as a team and we do something fun. Head to lunch, go bowling, see a movie. Just something to keep us interested in coming back to work.

[Host 1]

A monthly massage.

[Caller/Guest]

A quarterly massage, and a monthly fun day.

[Host 1]

That is awesome. And it's during a work day, too. It's not outside of the work hours.

[Host 2]

Correct.

[Caller/Guest]

We actually close the office. We don't tell everyone that we close the office, but our office is actually closed for that day. And we go out and we usually spend about two or three hours together. I mean, we've gone shopping at the mall, like I said, the movies. Anything that we decide we want to do that month, we just go and do it. And luckily, we've been afforded the opportunity to continue to do that in the economy.

[Host 2]

Love it. That's great.

[Host 1]

That's great.

[Host 3]

What's the name of the company that I wrote the letter to that, you know? Selig Selig Company.

[Host 2]

Selig Enterprises.

[Host 3]

Selig Enterprises is a company here in town, and I read an article about them in the paper a couple. Was it, like, two months ago or so, Bert, that the owner of the company, Mr. Selig, appropriately enough, decided that business was going well and he was gonna take all of his employees on vacation. So basically, he emailed him at the beginning of the year and said, nobody make any Plans for a long Labor Day weekend. Not telling you where, not telling you for how long. I'm not telling you how we're getting there, But I got a surprise trip for you. Labor Day week. And he sent out clues throughout the year and he ended up taking them all to Colorado to. I want to say Jackson Hole, but I think that's wrong. Or Aspen or some cool city in the Midwest. And spent the long weekend, the entire company did together. But it was the way the article was written. It was super cool because everybody's trying to guess and figure out where it went. And of course, he picked up the whole tab.

[Host 2]

Everything.

[Host 1]

That's amazing.

[Host 3]

And it's not like a little. I mean, it's hundreds of employees.

[Host 1]

And did they get to bring family members or significant other, whatever. Yeah.

[Host 2]

That's awesome.

[Host 1]

Wow.

[Host 3]

So you would go with your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, whatever. And it's a, like a. I guess Sealy Enterprises family vacation.

[Host 2]

Hey, Stacey, you're on Q100. Good morning.

[Caller/Guest]

Hey, good morning.

[Host 1]

Hi. Why are we jealous of your job?

[Caller/Guest]

I have plenty of perks, but my favorite one, I'm a nanny. And so I'm driving around with the kids all the time. And so they have given me a credit card to charge all of my gas to.

[Host 1]

Nice.

[Host 2]

That's huge right now.

[Caller/Guest]

Very nice.

[Host 3]

It is.

[Caller/Guest]

And you know, they say, yeah, you know, a lot of the time you're not driving the kids around, but still, you know, we just want you to have that luxury. And they know I have a good fuel efficient car, so it's really nice.

[Host 2]

I just love. I love the attitude. Like, at the end of the day, if you are meeting your numbers, who cares how you're meeting them? Spend the time the way you want. If you're meeting your numbers and you are meeting what we consider a successful number, do whatever else you want.

[Host 1]

This giving people that autonomy to be at their personal best rather than forcing them to be at whatever standard you

[Host 2]

think they should be and stressed out about it and all that. Hey, Heather, you're on Q100.

[Caller/Guest]

Hey. How are you guys doing?

[Host 2]

Good, how are you?

[Caller/Guest]

I'm so nervous. I always get nervous when I talk to you guys. I have the most awesome job in the world. I work for CNN, Turner Broadcasting. I've only been there seven years. I get 33 days off a year.

[Host 3]

Wow.

[Caller/Guest]

I get. We get raises every year. We get discounts from everything from furniture to electronics to entertainment. Tickets, like for Chastain, the aquarium, the zoo, we get tickets. We get free tickets for the Hawks for The Braves for the Thrashers. I mean, I can go on. I love my job.

[Host 2]

I mean, that's the kind you just. It's so rare that you hear company loyalty either way from the employees or the companies. But when you do stuff like this, it makes me want to work for you.

[Host 3]

Absolutely.

[Caller/Guest]

Awesome. They even moved us to a four day work week because of gas.

[Host 2]

No kidding.

[Caller/Guest]

So I get Friday, Saturday. I mean, sorry, Thursday, Friday and Saturday off.

[Host 2]

That's fantastic.

[Host 3]

Do you know if you're hiring?

[Caller/Guest]

Not in my department. We're all full right now.

[Host 2]

I bet you are. And nobody's going. Nobody's going anywhere. That's true. Anastasia, Good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Host 3]

Hey y'.

[Caller/Guest]

All. Good morning.

[Host 2]

Good morning.

[Caller/Guest]

My favorite perk is my sweet little company car. And sweet little gas car that goes along with it.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

So they pay for all. They pay for the car and the gas?

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah, absolutely. I get five weeks a year vacation and I have an expense account they cover like my Internet. My cell phone too.

[Host 2]

That's why you sound so damn happy. Look at you sound all perky.

[Caller/Guest]

I'm just driving around the parking lot right now, just wasting gas.

[Host 1]

Who does she work for?

[Caller/Guest]

I work for Pfizer.

[Host 1]

Pfizer?

[Host 2]

Yeah. Okay. Good for them.

[Host 1]

Good for them. Yeah.

[Host 2]

Thanks, Anastasia. Appreciate it. You heard how happy they sound. Man complaining when they gotta go to work.

[Host 3]

Excited to go to work.

[Caller/Guest]

Well, it makes sense.

[Host 1]

You spend most of your life at work. Yeah. So I mean companies should really try to make it an environment where an employee wants to be there.

[Host 2]

If you do the math on it, think about it. If you're just working an eight hour day, and I know very few people that are only working eight hours now, that's what? That's more than one third of your life because 1/3 you're spent sleeping. Okay. So that doesn't even count.

[Host 1]

Right?

[Host 2]

So I mean, that's a large chunk out of your life. If you're not happy there, the other 2/3 of your life are gonna suck.

[Host 1]

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[Host 2]

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