Lab ranks competitively in employee 'perks'

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) ranks ninth overall in employee "perks" compared to other high tech companies nationwide. The ranking was received after LLNL was evaluated in a 2016 study conducted by Willis Towers Watson.

The Laboratory was one of 28 companies that participated in the 2016 U.S. Perks Study, which measures and benchmarks the prevalence and value of employee perks in the high-tech industry. The study looked at 100 perks with 350 features in 10 categories: food, family, convenience, wellness, commuter, education, financial, services, technology and recreation. LLNL was even more competitive as compared to California company participants and ranked seventh out of the 16 participating California companies as compared to high profile tech companies such as Cisco, Facebook, Intuit, LinkedIn, Yahoo and Yelp. The study represented 250,000 employees, with 64 percent considering perks an important part of their employment package.

The overall value of LLNL’s entire perks program is 114.8 percent of peers. LLNL ranks most competitively in education, financial, recreation and wellness perks and is equal with peers in commuter perks.

In education, LLNL was the No.1 award winner of the 28 companies in the study. Through the Lab’s Education Assistance Program, employees who want to pursue course work or an academic degree can submit a request to receive tuition assistance, etc.

Other employee perks that are highly valued at LLNL are the robust recreation and wellness programs offered through the Livermore Laboratory Employee Services Association (LLESA) and Health Services. Health Services offers medical services and wellness coaching, and LLESA fitness members can take part in on-site group exercise classes and have access to the on-site gym. While many of the perks available to Lab employees fall under its contract, several are subsidized or employee paid.

Some of the many "perks" the Laboratory offers include: on-site classes such as Spanish, Mandarin, cooking and tap dance; networking groups, such as martial arts, table tennis, Toastmasters and organic gardening. Numerous on-site sales events combined with summer concerts, author events, a passport day, bike helmet program, electric car charging, wellness programs and support groups are just a few of the other perks offered to employees at LLNL.

The Laboratory scored less competitively in areas of convenience, family, food, service and technology perks. These findings have spurred management to explore options for possible on-site convenience services such as mobile haircuts, manicures, car washing and more.