The beauty of a startup is the flexibility in providing things that make your folks happy. I always believe that unless a person is happy within he/she will never be able to make your customers or others around you happy. It is only in movies such as Anand we see otherwise :)
At Sokrati we keep trying a few things. Many are ideas within from folks in the company.
- Holidays: The company offers 4 public holidays and 5-6 floating holidays every year. The floating holidays can be taken during designated cultural/religious days. This way while some religious holidays may make sense to someone it may not mean much to another. Thus addressing all.
- Fully covered medical insurance: As the cost of medical expenses arise it is always relieving that this isn't actually a hassle anymore. The company has tied up with well-known insurance providers to waive that fee off upto a certain limit.
- Internet charges are waived off for home. There is not a person these days who doesn't need Internet. The company makes sure that all have one eventually.
- Loan: One can take one month's pay-check as a loan completely interest fee.
- Car Loan: You need to get a loan through one of the banks but the interest is re-imbursed by the company. So it is practically an interest free loan!
- Vendor to serve lunch and evening snack. We have finally managed to find the right vendor to serve lunch and evening snacks. The food is sumptuous and affordable and guess what it always comes on time!
- We sleep at work! There are always times when one needs a quick nap to regain some mojo. There is a couch where we take turns to sleep while some sleep at desk itself. You see someone you don't judge but rather pull the drapes down so that he/she can sleep comfortably!
- A travel allowance irrespective of where you live, so that your distance + petrol/diesel charges are taken care of.
- Bread + Tea/Coffee + Maggi round the clock! You need it you just need to ask. We have tried not to endorse unhealthy cold-drinks and food.
- Power Hours: We at times notice that if we have a few uninterrupted hours we get into a maximum efficiency mode. Hence the concept of Power Hours where you can subtly tell others to "Not Disturb" me.
- DISCO: This is our time of the month where we can work on any of our own little ideas and also possible form a team and eventually a company if successful. We set aside 4 days in the month to work on a novel idea. We will soon be launching one of our previous disco projects helping the startup community.
- Month-long induction project where you completely own the project in and out. The project has a mentor to guide you and will educate you about the processes in the company. At the end you have a functional system and you have learned the tricks of trade in Sokrati. This idea was suggested by Kaushik and is now successfully incorporated across the entire company.
- Funny business cards to break the ice. We have cards with personal caricatures. Its just the way we start our conversations!
- SCL: Sokrati Cricket League to blow of some steam every friday. We make our parking lot a cricket pitch where 6 play against 6.
- Friday evening bashes where all get to relax after cricket or any of the friday planned days eat some company sponsored snack like a burger, chat, vada-pao + drink some stuff 'cause come on atleast some days we should eat un-healthy.
I guess I covered them most. Ofcourse there are a few more which are our little secrets. Just wanted to share them with all so as to give ideas to other startups. If you have your own little startup perks please let me know!
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