My last entry extolled the effort PlattForm puts into ‘training and developing’ and what a great benefit it is for PlattFormers. That got me to thinking about some of the other “free” benefits that come just from working here. Now to put this into perspective, a previous agency that I worked for (which will go unnamed) touted the benefit of “having all the hot coffee you can drink.” (Seriously). So maybe my bar is set exceedingly low . . . or maybe that was just another era. . . nevertheless, as I look around, there’s a lot more than hot coffee to brag about here.

Of course, there’s the standard benefits: the health plan, the dental plan, yada yada yada. But what I’m talking about goes a little beyond your basic cafeteria-style HMO fare.

Like the 401K plan. Now wait. . . I know this screams “booor-ing” but hear me out. After you’re here for a year, the company will match you, up to 8% of your annual salary, for every dollar you contribute to a retirement plan. The best part? There’s no vesting schedule. That means whenever you decide to leave, that money is yours for the taking. It’s like getting an 8% raise every year!

Interested in something a bit more visceral? OK. How about our Friday meatings. No that’s not a typo. Every Friday from Memorial Day to Labor Day a different department grills lunch for every other department in the agency. (It’s almost always grilled—except for the time one department made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and spent the rest of the budget on an amusement park moonwalk. . . and one would surmise: clean-up.)

Had one too many ribs at the “meating”? Well, burn it off in the full gym complete with free weights, machines and more treadmills than you’d ever care to tread upon. The gym comes complete with a personal trainer and licensed massage therapist—just make an appointment to have your stress from overeating massaged away.

Now don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not saying we don’t work hard here. We do. But with all the free benefits, I’m expecting to be called “Comrade” next time I walk down the hall to fill my cup with. . . that free hot coffee.