Umm... nobody talking about the social contract aspect of this?
Salary is soon forgotten, once it's regular, if you're not focused on it all the time.
But when a company provides so many perks, people feel like it's out of a social contract. Company X is my friend, Company X gives me free stuff, gives me time to work on my own things, takes me on vacations. I don't just work here for a salary -- look at this, they really treat us right. They care. They know that we are addicted to Pocky / need childcare / are too into working to drive out of Mtn View and find a burger.
Take them away and it's like your friend just revealed that they were only into you for your money. Or to find a way to get to your sister.
People feel betrayed.
Betrayal is a nasty, nasty feeling that leads people to do backlashy things.
Salary is soon forgotten, once it's regular, if you're not focused on it all the time.
But when a company provides so many perks, people feel like it's out of a social contract. Company X is my friend, Company X gives me free stuff, gives me time to work on my own things, takes me on vacations. I don't just work here for a salary -- look at this, they really treat us right. They care. They know that we are addicted to Pocky / need childcare / are too into working to drive out of Mtn View and find a burger.
Take them away and it's like your friend just revealed that they were only into you for your money. Or to find a way to get to your sister.
People feel betrayed.
Betrayal is a nasty, nasty feeling that leads people to do backlashy things.