As many organizations continue nudging employees toward more in-person time, some have decided to get creative. A few have gone beyond free coffee or casual Fridays and are experimenting with perks that range from clever to unexpected. Ford recently made headlines for selling $6 rotisserie chickens in its cafeterias to encourage workers to return. They are not alone in taking an unconventional approach.
These examples highlight how far employers are willing to go to make office life feel more appealing.
High-Value Raffles and Big-Ticket Prizes
CoStar Group launched one of the flashiest campaigns. Employees who show up on select days can enter raffles for a brand-new Tesla Model S, $10,000 cash prizes, and even company-paid trips to Barbados. Leadership framed it as a fun way to boost in-person energy and reward participation.
Commuting Help and Scooter Subscriptions
To make commuting less of a hurdle, Google partnered with Unagi to reimburse employees for an electric scooter subscription when they ride it to work and back for at least nine days each month. Other companies have gone the route of transportation stipends. Bloomberg, for example, offered up to $75 per day for commuting costs ranging from parking to public transit.
Office Spaces Reimagined
Some employers are redesigning their spaces to feel more inviting. Examples include “treehouse”-style floors filled with greenery and open seating, as well as virtual golf simulators aimed at giving employees a fun break during the workday. Real estate firms have leaned into these amenities to make the office feel like a place people want to be, not just a place they are required to be.
Wellness-Based Incentives
More mainstream is the focus on wellbeing. Several employers have added paid “recharge days” to reduce burnout tied to the shift back to the office. Examples include IHG with three recharge days per year, ServiceNow with six wellbeing days, and HP with its “me day.” Some health systems have also invested in wellness rooms furnished with massage chairs, calming sounds, and healthy snacks.
Food, Pets, and Other Comforts
Free meals remain one of the most popular tools. Companies continue to host food trucks, cater lunch, and provide themed food days. WPP adopted Free-lunch Fridays to lift morale and bring teams together. Pet-friendly policies are also gaining ground, with employers allowing dogs in the office to create a warmer, more social environment. Ford offers take-home dinners such as rotisserie chickens and pizza.
What These Efforts Signal
These perks show how employers are balancing organizational needs with employee expectations. Employees want environments that support connection, flexibility, and wellbeing. Perks help, but long-term progress depends on addressing workload, culture, and the practicality of commuting. It might take more than a rotisserie chicken to make up long commutes.
Sources: inman.com, techradar.com, The Guardian, Fortune, Wired, The Times, CNBC