This is completely standard in every big corporation Ive worked for, both in Europe and North America. I think it’s just a corporate flex: “when you’re with us, you’re covered”
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The Worst Perk at Google
51–60 of 74 posts
Re: The Worst Perk at Google
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
A lot of small business dental plans cost the company nothing extra to offer to employees because the cost is passed onto the employee directly. It is an optional 'perk' that is offered by the insurance company, but it is almost worthless in value. A lot of employees don't do the math and just tack on the extra monthly fee. But, if you do the math on them, it often doesn't work out to opt into that perk, even in an e…
Okay, but for example, dental isn't an option at my small company, you just get it. Probably because there is a large group of union employees.
Correct, larger plans get it factored into the overall costs and hidden from you. When my company grew in size and we switched plans, suddenly I got dental as well for free (I had previously denied it cause I did the math). It may not even be something your employer pays for as it might be a perk added in by the insurance company. Depending on what the coverage actually is, it still may or may not be worth it. Hard to say... it is all so nebulous and poorly defined.
Always read the small print though...
Re: The Worst Perk at Google
#53I work at Google I like that this is taken care of for me and that I don't have to spend my personal time trying to research a bunch of life insurance options and figure out what works and what doesn't. I also love that there is some amount of collective bargaining being applied here instead of me making the purchase as an individual. I'll gladly pay a $300/yr premium for that, and the ease of mind that my loves ones…
> some amount of collective bargaining being applied here instead of me making the purchase as an individual. The whole point of the article is that Google's pricing is terrible compared to the open market. If they actually did any bargaining they did it this way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPqAcOnEBUI . Having competitive rates and having HR helping out the family when an employee dies can be completely orthogo…
Isn't it guaranteed issue? That's an expensive option.
Re: The Worst Perk at Google
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would give up my freedom of speech and right to vote in exchange for free, high-quality heath care for life.
But how would you speak-out when they took it all away a year later?
I wouldn't, because speaking out is useless. Our current freedom of speech hasn't brought free healthcare, jobs, living wages, or affordable homes any closer. The genius of the American plutocracy is convincing the working class that free speech enables all of these, in spite of the last fifty years showing that it does nothing of the sort.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Em6Bwp_UcAA_8Ou?format=jpg&name=...
Re: The Worst Perk at Google
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would give up my freedom of speech and right to vote in exchange for free, high-quality heath care for life.
well you can do that by moving countries
China doesn't have good Mexican food. But they really are a remarkable country. Building high speed rail over their entire country in a few years, shiny new hospitals in days during a pandemic. Sometimes I wish they would occupy California and shut down our racist concentration camps (sorry, for-profit prisons), then ship the homeless to dorms in the Central Valley. Of course, they would also build out our high speed rail in a couple of weeks, just as they are modernizing Africa (rather than dropping "aid" like Americans).
Re: The Worst Perk at Google
#56I work at Google I like that this is taken care of for me and that I don't have to spend my personal time trying to research a bunch of life insurance options and figure out what works and what doesn't. I also love that there is some amount of collective bargaining being applied here instead of me making the purchase as an individual. I'll gladly pay a $300/yr premium for that, and the ease of mind that my loves ones…
I get what you're saying, but at 29 what would I have done with life insurance? I had no spouse or children. It seemed like all they were asking is a way to opt out.
True but at the same time, Google has all sorts of weird perks that we can't opt out of and essentially pay a tax for.
For example, some parts of campus have swimming pools and endless treadmill pools. I don't swim so I get zero benefit from this. Meanwhile these things definitely cost some amount of money to service and maintain. We can't opt out of that.
We can't out of Google throwing massive holiday parties that I don't think are a lot of fun.
In the end, it's just kind of a package deal. Given that Google comps relatively well, the point is to just be happy with the money you are making and not stress too much about optimizing <$1000 at a time
Re: The Worst Perk at Google
#57I work at Google I like that this is taken care of for me and that I don't have to spend my personal time trying to research a bunch of life insurance options and figure out what works and what doesn't. I also love that there is some amount of collective bargaining being applied here instead of me making the purchase as an individual. I'll gladly pay a $300/yr premium for that, and the ease of mind that my loves ones…
That’s not how term life insurance works. Either you die and it pays out or you don’t and it doesn’t. It’s not at all like other kinds of insurance.
Re: The Worst Perk at Google
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
> some amount of collective bargaining being applied here instead of me making the purchase as an individual. The whole point of the article is that Google's pricing is terrible compared to the open market. If they actually did any bargaining they did it this way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPqAcOnEBUI . Having competitive rates and having HR helping out the family when an employee dies can be completely orthogo…
No, because this entirely ignores the dimension of quality. I mean maybe they are right, but it's not considered in the analysis. The author recommends I buy Geico life insurance for $156/yr. I have Geico car insurance and have filed claims when people broken into my car. You would not believe the lengths this scum bag company goes to in order to not pay you the money you are entitled to. I don't want my family subje…
Try Amica. They’re amazing and they don’t jerk you around about this kind of stuff.
Re: The Worst Perk at Google
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
well you can do that by moving countries
China doesn't have good Mexican food. But they really are a remarkable country. Building high speed rail over their entire country in a few years, shiny new hospitals in days during a pandemic. Sometimes I wish they would occupy California and shut down our racist concentration camps (sorry, for-profit prisons), then ship the homeless to dorms in the Central Valley. Of course, they would also build out our high speed…
Sadly, most countries don't have good Mexican food. Pet theory is easy for undocumented/labour Mexicans to sneak into US who absorbs 98% of the diasphora. Rest of world has dearth of Mexicans who opens restaurants because that's not a skill set they look for in economic migrants. Lucky to have some good Mexican joints in major Canadian city, but most places don't. That extra border hop filters out a lot.
Re: The Worst Perk at Google
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
well you can do that by moving countries
China doesn't have good Mexican food. But they really are a remarkable country. Building high speed rail over their entire country in a few years, shiny new hospitals in days during a pandemic. Sometimes I wish they would occupy California and shut down our racist concentration camps (sorry, for-profit prisons), then ship the homeless to dorms in the Central Valley. Of course, they would also build out our high speed…
> Building high speed rail over their entire country in a few years
Ah, the high speed rail network to podunk provincial towns where nobody can actually afford the fares. Built by taking on insane levels of debt which will hobble China Railway for decades to come.
> shiny new hospitals in days during a pandemic
And yet keep imposing lockdowns while the rest of the world has limped back to normal. All the while pushing inferior vaccines and ineffective cures.
Do you understand how bad the healthcare system in China is? Even highly paid software engineers have to resort to smuggling medicines from India because of the absurd costs at home. I know because I personally helped my colleagues procure anti-cancer drugs.
> then ship the homeless to dorms
I think the preferred term is reeducation camps.
> just as they are modernizing Africa
By building white elephant projects and leaving them with unsustainable levels of debt. Do you see a pattern?