Low Maintenance

When some of my coworkers found out that I will finally be getting a laptop for work or that I will be finally going to New York on business, they got more excited than I did. I told them that I'm very low maintenance and I don't care for these kinds of "perks." While most people try to acquire as many "perks" the company can offer, those things don't matter much to me. Some of the perks include:

A laptop-- this is basically given to anyone who travels. Others use a desktop. Laptops are considered a perk because you can now use the laptop for personal use, such as what I'm doing now. Got a wi-fi so I'm sitting comfortably on my bed typing this entry, and browsing the web at the same time. Half of the time, it's more convenience than anything. You can bring work home (not that you really want to, but it's an option) instead of staying late in the office. It can connect to the network so all your shared files can be accessible from home.

A "Spy" phone -- a phone with Caller ID. Apparently, this is hot commodity in our company. Only certain individuals were blessed to have a spy phone, which does great things because you can see who's calling you ahead of time. This allows you to screen calls.

An "Aeron" chair -- these are the best ergonomic chairs in the market, which costs roughly about $1000 a piece. You can probably get some used ones for about $600. But these chairs are created with the best and innovative technology out there, allowing you to adjust almost every part of the chair thus making the chair customized to your body. The seat is made out of nylon (or some special material) and airs out any body heat that might have generated after, emm, 8 hours of sitting. Again, only certain privileged individuals were able to get these chairs because they are so expensive. Unless you have a medical disability or you are top management, chances are, you won't get one.

Travel -- this is perhaps the most sought after perk in the company. It's really an awesome deal. People get to travel to Europe, Asia, Australia, anywhere -- all expenses paid. From tickets, meals, lodging -- yep, even that latte you got in the morning-- all paid. Yes, you have to meet with vendors or check your emails at night, but the benefits are obvious. A lot of people tack on a few days after the trip for a personal vacation. They have to pay for the few extra hotel nights out of pocket for personal travel, but you've got your return ticket paid already, so why not? The best part is that you get to keep your miles, most of them will be doubled because you'll be flying on business class.

So, of the 4 things listed above, I used to have only 1 -- the aeron chair. I acquired it when a coworker of mine left the company and gave it to me. So, it's not like the company bought it specifically for me. Not until last week, I acquired 2 more of the so-called perks -- a laptop and travel. Although my travel is short-- only to New York for 3 days, I still consider it an all-expensed paid perk. I never asked for any of these things. I am low maintenance. The company should be glad to have hired me. I never ask for much. Salary, on the other hand, is another issue...and another blog.