Related to the financial progress thread - I thought lets start a thread on perks of the job. Some are totally legit, some are not. How about the old hands help the young uns find the grease that helps the wheels turn?By this I mean beyond the usual "get paid a lot and get bonuses by going up the org".So some legit ones: - Heathcare (costs money, but if you need it it can save a lot too) - Laptop / phone - If you don't buy one for home use as well then this saves you cash - Share schemes and options - Car / travel allowance: Good way for firms to boost the employees take home without it being on the pension. Particularly good if you don't actually run a car and then claim for trains / taxis and flights everywhere. - Air miles / loyalty schemes. Dull, I never got anything out of these but some swear by them. - Cashback credit card deals for all your company expense. Ditch the company cards, you get no kickback from them. - Get to know hotel staff so get upgraded for free. - Don't join a gym - just always book into hotels with a decent gym / pool - Live with mum and get on projects where you are away in hotels. - Read the expenses policy very thoroughly so you know what you are and are not allowed to claim for. (e.g. One place allowed breakfast to be claimed for early starts, and dinner for late journeys home, receipt required if over a couple of quid and airports are expensive places for breakfast) - Cycle to work scheme (you are all earning over the amount to make this worthwhile)Some not so legit: - Car share then all claim mileage expenses - Other half comes to stay in your expensed hotel room for a cheap 'holiday'. Or if it is the other, other half then saves you paying for a motel... - 'Forget' to deduct personal calls from work mobile bill. - Claim per diems and live out of Tesco / cheap client canteen. - For receipted claims buy the week's groceries (up to the claim limit) - On a long term assignment stay with friends and claim it at market short term rental rate. Needs a tenancy agreement to go through the expense system but they are easy to draw up. - Run a personal business using work assets, From using the laptop, to printing materials at work (I remember someone getting fired for this). - Keep those blank receipts the friendly taxi driver gives you, and get good at forging signatures of various nationality 'drivers' - Start selling office stationary - Do a thorough investigation of the client's finances and / or personal life. Any irregularities can be a useful lever for fee 'negotiations' - Do great work for clients so they give you a present when you leave (does happen, usually needs to be recorded in a gift register or refused depending on the company) - Always order a hire car that is the same as your personal car. Never buy tyres again by swapping the wheels over. If the company picks up the bill for damages, and you are good with a spanner can also work for damaged seats, steering wheels, stereos and engine parts (not the engine or chassis for obvious numbering reasons)Anyone got any more?(PS - some of the above are not necessarily serious.)
