Summary
- Office amenities are essential for a productive workplace.
- The more useful amenities an office has, the more likely employees will be productive and satisfied with their work environment.
If you’re lucky enough to work in a place with great office amenities, then you know what a difference they can make. From free food and drink, to on-site gyms and showers, these are the things that can make your workday that little bit better.
Let’s look at ten amenities employees love.
1. Comfortable chairs
Employees spend a lot of time sitting at their desks, so it’s important to have comfortable chairs supporting the back.
If you’re uncomfortable, you’re not going to be productive. You’re more likely to take breaks and try to find ways to move around.
But if you’re relaxed, you can focus on your work and be more efficient.
2. Games room
A game room is great for letting off some steam during the workday and it can also provide an excellent bonding experience for employees.
Games can help relieve stress, improve problem-solving skills, and increase productivity. They can also be a lot of fun.
3. On-site gym
An on-site gym is a great amenity, especially if you’re trying to promote a healthy lifestyle for employees. It helps workers relieve stress, stay in shape, exercise during the day, and is a great way to bond with co-workers.
4. Hassle-free parking
Parking is a huge pain for many employees. If you can offer a hassle-free one, it’s a huge perk that your employees will love.
Consider Wayleadr’s lot management solutions. They offer a technology that makes parking easier for employees, including:
- Space allocation
- Online parking space booking
- Occupancy tracking
- Integrations with existing systems
- Online checking and releasing of parking space
When you automate the parking process with dedicated parking management software, you increase satisfaction, reduce stress, and benefit from improved employee productivity.
5. Childcare
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics‘ 2021 report says 89.1% of families with kids have at least one working parent. This means most working parents must find a way to balance work and childcare.
As anyone with kids knows, this is not always easy.
That’s where on-site childcare comes in. It’s a great way to help working parents balance their responsibilities, and it’s a benefit that employees are willing to pay for.
Companies that offer this amenity include Procter & Gamble, Cisco, Disney, and Boeing. These big companies understand the importance of attracting and retaining top talent.
6. Free snacks
Free food is perhaps one of the most popular office amenities. And it’s not hard to see why.
Offering free snacks and drinks is a great way to show your employees that you care about their well-being. It’s a great way to keep them happy and productive, leading to higher job satisfaction rates.
Catered lunches are also a great avenue to strengthen workplace culture and relations.
7. Flexible hours
Since the pandemic hit, flexible hours have become more important.
Fortune‘s 2022 study found that knowledge workers, who make up 95% of the workforce, prefer flexible hours over hybrid employment.
Flexible hours are a great way to show your employees that you trust them to get their work done and that you’re willing to work with them to find a schedule that works for both of you.
8. Generous vacation time
In the U.S., the average worker gets ten days of paid time off (PTO) annually. But in other countries, like France and Germany, workers earn an average of 30 days per year.
It’s no surprise, then, that employees in the U.S. are often stressed out and overworked. That’s why ample vacation time is such a popular office amenity.
These are just some of the most popular office amenities and perks. If you want to attract and retain top talent, offer some of them to make your employees happy, productive, and satisfied.
Amenities alone don’t fix a broken office. If the fundamental workspace design is wrong, perks are a bandaid. See our take on the great office overhaul for how companies are rethinking the whole package.
Many of the most-requested perks tie directly to work-life balance. Our step-by-step guide to improving employee work-life balance maps out how to deliver on these expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities do employees want most?
Flexible parking, quality food options, wellness spaces, reliable technology, and commute support consistently rank highest. Parking is the #1 commute-related pain point — 30% of workplace complaints relate to it.
Do office perks improve retention?
Yes, but only when they address genuine friction. Free snacks don’t offset a 30-minute daily parking hunt. The perks that drive retention solve real problems — commute ease, schedule flexibility, and workspace quality.
How should companies prioritize workplace amenities?
Survey employees, rank by impact on daily experience (not novelty), and start with the highest-friction items. For most offices, fixing parking and improving meeting room availability delivers more ROI than a coffee bar.
