Does Your Employer Provide Coffee and Other Beverages for Staff?

[cybrkitn]

My last job (prior to being laid off) had a commercial Keurig so we had coffee, tea and hot chocolate. They also had a few snacks (candy, pretzles, etc.) for the employees as well.

The job prior to that had two vending machines. One for drinks (Coke) and one for snacks. They also had coffee that was 50 cents per cup. We also had a coffee truck that came by 2-3 times per day. In addition to that, they also had a UV filtered water system that replaced the old water jug.

DS9 has told me a few times that he misses the company that had the vending machines (as a toddler they were his favorites along with the water).

 

[castmemberb4]

I work for a dentist he only provides bottled water.

 

[pad406]

We get filter coffee each morning, instant after that. There are tea bags but no staff drink tea. There is also a water cooler and every Friday pizzas for everybody who wants (there are only 7 of us though)

 

[supercarrie]

I've just started a new job at a global management consultancy. There are filtered water dispensers, "fancy" coffee/espresso machines, and lots of tea varieties at different stations throughout the building. Also free Coke and diet Coke.

The BEST perk, however, is the FREE breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is continental, so lots of bread/bagels/pastries, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, etc. Lunch includes a full salad bar, baked potatoes, sandwiches, two main "hot" options for lunch (one meat/fish and one vegetarian), a substantial dessert, i.e. apple pie, lighter desserts, i.e. cookies/brownies and fresh fruit.

Good thing we also have a free gym with free personal training sessions - we need it after all that free food!

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

Coffee, tea, hot cocoa. Sugar and substitutes, regular creamer provided. Water and hot water is in a hard-lined dispenser so it isn't that tasty... but I still drink it. We also have plastic utensils, stirrers, and plates. But no cups - you have to have your own cup (there are a few cups for visitors). Also no honey, had to get my own of that. No soda or snacks but there is a machine in the building lobby. Occasionally (every 3 or so months) we have lunch provided for us (ie, pizza) on the company dime using some of our employee activity dollars (and we do not get a whole heck of a lot of them).

 

[StephMK]

My current employer is small & provides tea bags & I think coffee (I don't drink it). DH's provides coffee, tea, and Crystal Light packets.

My previous employer had soda fountains w/Coke products. As a DC lover, I was in heaven! When they moved, they stopped providing it though.

 

[Zachsmom4]

I am very fortunate, my employer provides Alterra coffee (it was previously Starbucks but people complained), bottled water, canned and fountain soda, teas, hot chocolate, snacks, and a full lunch every day.

 

[IUTBAM]

DH's employer (energy company) provides coffee, tea, filtered water (hot and cold), and hot chocolate for free, and they bring in bagels & fruit every Friday. His previous employer (also an energy company) provided all of that plus soda as well.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I work at a public school. The only thing we get for free is tap water and the occasional cafeteria leftovers that get left in the staff room (I got a free banana last week!).

On the other hand, here is what my husband's company provides to every employee, every single day: a free, hot catered lunch; cereal, fruit, bread, muffins and yogurt for breakfast; unlimited snacks throughout the day (including granola bars, microwave popcorn, fruit, etc. - if you want something in particular, just put it on the shopping list); assorted sodas, flavored waters, tea bags and a huge variety of coffee and hot chocolate flavors for their Tassimo coffee maker; happy hour every Thursday at 5:00 complete with beer, wine, sodas and hot appetizers. The caterer packages up individual portions of the leftovers from lunch and leaves them in the refrigerator. If you're working late or want to take food home, you can just grab a container. Many employees eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the company every weekday. My husband eats breakfast and lunch there. If he has a late meeting, he will grab dinner there too. It has certainly cut down our grocery bill! This company's offerings are on the extreme side, but many companies in the Silicon Valley are starting to provide more free food and drinks to employees to stay competitive.

 

[arminnie]

I do, however, consider at least coffee to be standard in the private sector workplace.

I worked for Ross Perot (nut job of the century) about 25 years ago. We could have coffee - but only decaf. You know caffeine is a drug.

Before that I'd worked for a company that kept little bottles of wine in the frig. Big change in corp. culture!!!!

 

[njmom47]

We have a coffee machine with a bunch of types of coffee, and hot chocolate. It also dispenses hot water. They supply tea bags, and gallons of water are delivered to our desks. The only thing I use is bottled water, and rarely, hot choclate or a french vanilla cappucino. Cups, ice cubes, stirrers, sugar, salt, pepper, napkins, and artificial sweetners are all provided.
ETA We pay for soda (one has Coke products, the other has Pepsi products), and snacks in a vending machine as well.

 

[ArmyWife7]

I work in the casino industry. We have a behind the scenes buffet, very similar to the one the guests patronize (food is cooked in the same kitchen). We are provided one free hot meal per 6-hour shift, one snack, and unlimited drinks (soda, tea, coffee, water, crystal light, and hot chocolate).

 

[AndreaDM]

I worked for Ross Perot (nut job of the century) about 25 years ago. We could have coffee - but only decaf. You know caffeine is a drug.

Before that I'd worked for a company that kept little bottles of wine in the frig. Big change in corp. culture!!!!

I work for a non profit now and get coffee, tea, hot chocolate, water cooler and we have a big snack bowl. However, I used to work in public accounting and my nut job boss was a total health freak who drank nothing but water, therefore didn't provide coffee for us or the clients. Those of us who did drink it put money together once a month or so for supplies. The boss would always tell us we better not call off with a kidney infection from drinking caffiene. He also thought a chiropractor could cure anything.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I teach in a public school, and nothing is provided for us. We can, however, buy a nasty, over-processed school lunch for the discounted rate of $2.50. I think I'll pass.

 

[tvguy]

Current job, they took out the coffee vending machine and put in free coffee about a year ago when we got a new boss. We get donuts every other Friday (on payday). We also have a popcorn cart, they used to make popcorn on the Friday's between payday, but we ran out of popcorn and none has been ordered. We get lunch (Subway, Chipolte, etc) for our quarterly staff meetings. And being a TV station, when there is breaking news, they order pizza.

At my last 3 employers, coffee came and went with the whims of the new boss, HOWEVER, it seems everytime it came back it was after a client asked for a cup of coffee and expressed surprise that the company did not have free coffee for the employees. Hard to get someone to buy $100,000 a month in ads when you won't spend $60 a month on coffee for your staff.

 

[daisyduck123]

Sorry but that question had me

I'm a public school teacher...we get NOTHING all year long. No water, snacks, holiday bonuses - zip, nada, zero.

But we can join the PTO each year if we PAY $20.00. No thanks.

Mini-rant over now.

 

[st4rrab0vemybed]

We have K-cups, but they are 25 cents each. Not a huge fan, so my department and I invested in a French Press and make our own coffee. Tastes so much better! We have filtered hot and cold water available, and during the summer we have free ice cream day. Also, at the end of the year we have a huge Holiday party, and a free sandwich day. Overall, can't complain.

edit: we have various food/drink vending machines too.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

Nothing but tap water with ice provided free of charge, but we supply that to anyone that asks in our cafe, so it really isn't something special for our workers.

When we have morning training meetings, tho', we usually have coffee and sometimes bagels provided....that's just because they don't want us to fall a sleep.

 

[maslex]

Where I work, we have a cold/hot water dispenser. That's free.

There is also a coffee maker but you have to pay 50 cents per cup, I believe (I don't drink coffee or tea)

Most people bring in their own coffee/tea/hot chocolate from local donut shops though.

 

[denisem]

We had free coffee/tea right up until they day they closed our office.