These 8 tech companies have some of the coolest job perks in South Africa
While South Africa may not have a multi billion dollar “spaceship” campus like Apple, or giant indoor slides like Facebook or Google yet, a number of local tech companies have begun to offer pretty unusual and rewarding job perks to entice top employees away from their competitors.
Recently, internet service provider BitCo detailed some of the awesome perks it is using to attract and retain talent in the industry.
According to the company, ensuring happiness of its employees is key to the businesses’ continuing survival and perks – in addition to the recommended pension funds and paid leave benefits – is one of the ways it is actively trying to stand out.
Perks offered by the company include:
- A wellness consultant who visits bi-weekly, as well as fresh fruit which is delivered daily.
- For each anniversary spent with the company, the celebrant receives a gift and direct mention in company communications.
- A chill area with dedicated gaming station including PS4, Xbox and Nintendo Wii systems – free to use when employees take breaks.
- Free popcorn and beverages.
- A “token system”, which employees receive in appreciation for sharing their knowledge, communicating, portraying integrity and for other values that benefit others.
While BitCo may be the one of the newest South African tech companies trying to attract talent through cool and unusual job perks – it is not the first.
BusinessTech looked at some of the perks on offer in the local tech space.
MultiChoice – MLife service
One of MultiChoice’s biggest draw-cards is the MLife service it offers to its employees.
The concierge service/rewards programme offers a number of quality of life features including travel booking, car hire, massive discounts at over 1,000 different restaurants, a driver/concierge service, insurance and legal advice, as well as a number of vouchers to everything from spa days to gym memberships.
It even offers a 24/7 personal assistant which can help with less specific queries such as finding the councilor for your suburb or the best route for a trip to Durban.
Afrihost – Open bar
Alongside free breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as free imported coffee – one of Afrihost’s best job perks is what happens on a Friday afternoon.
As part of it’s wind-down into the weekend, the ISP offers an open bar to its employees, allowing them to relax and unwind after a long week.
Other benefits include a life coach, free laundry service, a spa treatment centre, an in-house gym with a full-time personal trainer, and an entertainment centre.
WebAfrica – A bonus every second quarter
While trips away and free food is always an enticing offer, WebAfrica also promises cold, hard cash as a job perk for its employees.
These include bonuses of up to 15% of your current annual salary, as well as every second quarter.
They also aim to make your work/life balance easier with a daily breakfast and lunch allowance, free web services, on the spot rewards (Sun City in 2015 and Mauritius in 2016) as well as possibly paying for further education opportunities.
Axxess – Free uncapped internet, gym membership and beer on tap
While other ISPs may offer free internet services, Axxess promises free uncapped internet to its employees.
It also has an on-site gym facility and a laundry service – allowing you to to do the dry cleaning while having your free breakfast/lunch in their cafeteria or having a cold, on-tap beer on a Friday.
MTN – Six months paid maternity leave
While it offers similar perks as other telecoms companies, one of MTN’s biggest job perks is six months paid maternity leave for all mothers.
It also offers employees free legal advice and financial planning, special handset deals, and discounts on select products.
Cell C – Free rugby games
Cell C has various perks, which include meal vouchers, desk drops, breakfast with the CEO, incentive trips, cash vouchers, and free devices.
The company also provides tickets to staff for the events which it sponsors, including Miss South Africa and Cell C rugby events.
MWEB – Gaming Cave
MWEB offers a concierge service for staff, where someone will collect your laundry, run errands, pay your traffic fines, collect your online shopping, and stand in queues for you.
Sticking with the ISPs focus on gaming, it’s Cape Town office also boasts its own ‘M-Cave’ gaming venue which includes several gaming stations, PlayStation consoles, Xbox, and arcade games.
The lunch areas are also equipped with pool tables, table tennis and chill-out spaces so that you can also partake in some more “traditional” competitive activities with your fellow employees.
Read: Why having a fast internet connection increases your chances of landing a job in SA
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