You don’t spend that much time with your family or your cat or even your dog, as much as you spend at your workplace. For millennials, the fun part is what counts more than salary and perks. And this message has not gone unheard by employers, who now offer workplaces which follow the mantra of “all work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy”. We have picked for you some of those whacky, crazy and quirkiest of companies to work for in 2018, where quirky is as quirky does.
1. Activision Blizzard
With a base in Santa Monica, California, Activision Blizzard, Inc., is the world’s most successful standalone interactive entertainment company. Activision develops, distributes, and publishes interactive entertainment for gaming consoles, mobile and tablet platforms, and PCs. You would know them well by their franchises like Call of Duty, Skylanders, and Destiny. Gaming consoles in every nook of the office have the employees playing to work or working through play…umm…we won’t know till we join the fun bandwagon.
2. AOL
What was once an internet dial-up company is now dabbling in a lot of digital products and even in content ( The Huffington Post, Engadget are part of their vast portfolio). Andrea Marston, the senior director of talent acquisition, says that ‘AOL’s biggest asset is our people’ and indeed it is, with a workforce of 6500. So you can try your luck at epic lip -sync battles or at a deadly game of foosball and ping pong. And don’t forget to spend the happy hours in chair massages and nap rooms, having those free drinks and snacks.
3. Adobe
This is the place to be if you are a nerd and a physically active one at that. You can let out that work session steam with Pilates and Kickboxing. All this, while you have a breathtaking view of the Silicon Valley.
4. Google
This company wears the crown for being the number one place to work at according to Forbes, and rightly so. A super swanky office, a high chair near the fireplace and a steaming cup of hot chocolate is all you need to have the most relaxing day at work.
5. Yahoo
A cliché to have Yahoo on our list but then the list just wouldn’t be complete without it. Right from their on-site fitness centers, yoga, basketball, and volleyball courts, to massage services; they have it all. Get your haircuts, dental care, dry cleaning, and car washes, all with a free breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And we are not yet done yet. The new mommies are pampered with a baby shower and your little ones can have a ball at the Oktoberfest and holiday parties.
6. Patagonia
It is known in the business world for making one of the best sustainable outdoor apparel. What makes them even more popular in the employees’ world are the fun perks that are an inherent part of their work culture. A cafe on the premises and flexitime working, depending on the weather, is where the fun begins. The employees surf the net when the waves are strong and surf the waters when the waves are good. Skiing is on the charts when it is just too snowy to waste the day sitting inside.
It’s time to update your resume and have some fun!
Priya Mathur is a freelance writer and an avid blogger. An MBA in International Finance, her love for writing eclipsed her love for the corporate world. She contributes for several blogs on lifestyle, food, fashion and entertainment. When she isn’t glued to the TV, she spends her time baking, reading, and playing with her French bulldog. Watching GoT someday is at the top of her bucket list. Currently she is working on an Indian Cook Book. You can reach her at tellpriya@gmail.com.
