10 Company Perks That Might Make You Consider a Career Change

Kim Messina
Jul 18, 2014

Healthcare, 401K, vacation, sick days and free coffee sound like every employee’s dream. But if you work at some tech companies these days, that all sounds like amateur hour. Top tech giants are redefining employee perks in hopes that happy, stress-free employees = more productive employees. We’re all about inspiring creativity and helping with productivity… could a career change be in order for you? Read on to learn the craziest perks out there — they will blow your mind!

1. Happy Hours: It’s five o’clock somewhere in Silicon Valley! Thrillist, Yelp, TripAdvisor and Google are just some of the companies that have free alcohol on site after work hours. (via Business Insider, image via The Huffington Post)

2. Travel… On Them: Whether by plane, train or automobile, some companies help ease their employees’ travel woes. Google gives free rental cars to run errands, Uber offers unlimited car service, and Eventbrite and Zynga reimburse employees for travel to and from work. But the ultimate in travel perks comes from Airbnb, who give their employees $2,000 a year to travel anywhere in the world. (via Silicon Valley Business Journal)

3. Unlimited Vacation Time: While we’re on the subject of travel, Automattic, Pinterest, Zynga, Ask.com, Yammer and Twitter don’t limit vacation days. Must. Be. Nice. (via NBC News)

4. Daily Meals: No time to leave your desk for lunch? Or breakfast? Or even dinner? No worries! Free meals and snacks are the most common perks among tech companies. (via The New York Times, image via KPU Marketing)

5. On-Site Amenities: Many companies offer on-site services that essentially make the phrase, “I have to run errands,” on par with, “The dog ate my homework.” Dropbox, Facebook and Google all have a barber shops. Facebook and Google also have healthcare centers, dry cleaning and laundy services. (via Silicon Valley Business Journal, image via Atomic Toasters)

6. Pet-Friendly Offices: Bring your pet to work every day! Airbnb, Google, Pinterest, and Eventbrite all let their employees bring their pets to the office. We wonder if there’s ever a midday break to play fetch? (via Business Insider)

7. Free Fitness: Healthiness is just as important as happiness. Many companies offer health perks that go beyond the standard gym. Airbnb provides weekly yoga classes, Pinterest has a biweekly running club and Google has lap pools. (via The Wherever Writer, image via HomeDSGN)

8. Games! Games! Games!: Arcade games in the Kixeye office? Cool! An adult ball pit at Google? Even better! Laser Tag outings with the Dropbox team? Winning! (via Business Insider)

9. Endless Tech Products: The second you start working for Apple, you are eligible for a 25 percent discount on one of their computers, in addition to other discounts throughout your tenure. At Dropbox, you can customize your computer, and at Automattic, you receive $2,000 to build your home office. (via Business Insider, image via Gotta Be Mobile)

10. Nap Time: Yep, you read that right. You can nap at Google (and Huffington Post!)… and not get in trouble. (via The Wherever Writer, image via Bit Rebels)

Which of these perks do you think is the craziest? What kinds of perks do you have at your job? Tell us in the comments!

6 New Google Maps Features To Make Your Next National Parks Trip Painless

Visiting ourU.S. National Parks is a must for every nature and adventure lover — a journey through breathtaking landscapes and amazing experiences with the ones you love (including yourself!). For 2025, National Park Week will be observed from Saturday, April 19 through Sunday, April 27, and Google Maps can make navigating them worlds easier. Between integrating more detailed instructions to trailheads and sounding off in response to relevant heat warnings, Google Maps features are the travel buddy you never knew you needed. Plan now and get ready to hit the road for an epic park trip. Read on for all of the features here to guide you through every step of the way!

1. View trails from beginning to end on Google Maps

Image via Google Maps

Trails are easier to discover via Maps. When you search for a trail, you’ll see the entire route displayed, so you can easily find the starting point and the end. Upon searching, you’ll get a preview of the trail with reviews and photos from the Google Maps community. You’ll also be able to see the trail’s difficulty as well as what it’s used for.

2. Detailed Google Maps directions bring you straight to the trailhead or park entrance

Photo by Chris Janda

Spare yourself the confusion of whether the trailhead you parked at is the trailhead you’re supposed to be hiking. Now, when you request walking or cycling directions to a particular trail, Google Maps will direct you right to its beginning.

3. Get informed when there's a heat wave warning

Image via cottonbro studio / PEXELS

When you Google search for information on extreme heat events, the engine will show you details on predicted heat waves, tips on staying cool, and any urgent health concerns associated with hot weather. This feature is helpful for exploring National Parks in particular, so you’re not risking your wellbeing for exploration and fun. These warnings will pop up in a conspicuous space on your screen to eliminate confusion.

4. See how the planet evolved over time with Google Earth's update

Image via Google Earth

Immerse yourself in Earth’s transformative nature using the biggest Google Earth update since 2017, Timelapse. The 4D experience takes you from the Amazon rainforest to the palm oil-rich land of Indonesia to shine a light on our changing planet and its problems and solutions, as well as a handful of beautiful natural phenomena that have unfolded over the past decades.

5. Easily view a National Park destination's can't-miss attractions

Image via Google Maps

With a National Park-related search, you’ll now be able to easily view any notable attractions, campgrounds, visitor centers, and trailheads within your desired park.

6. Go properly off the grid with offline Google Maps features

Image via Anna Alexes / PEXELS

Reliable cell coverage isn’t guaranteed in the great outdoors. To help you responsibly explore parks with clarity, Google Maps brings you offline features. Just tap the "download" button on any park’s Google Maps listing to download it for offline use.

Itching to explore more?

Image via Pixabay / PEXELS

Here are the most popular U.S. National Parks, according to Google*:

  1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  2. Bryce Canyon National Park
  3. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
  4. Kenai Fjords National Park
  5. Rocky Mountain National Park
  6. Acadia National Park
  7. Badlands National Park
  8. Mount Rainier National Park
  9. Carlsbad Caverns National Park
  10. Grand Teton National Park
  11. Crater Lake National Park
  12. Redwood National and State Parks
  13. Olympic National Park
  14. Haleakalā National Park
  15. White Sands National Park
  16. Arches National Park
  17. Sequoia National Park
  18. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
  19. Dry Tortugas National Park
  20. North Cascades National Park
*Determined by National Parks with ratings of 4.5 or higher and more than 1,000 reviews on Google Maps

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Header image via Google Maps

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8 "Unique" Celebrity Baby Names That Are Super...Interesting!

When it comes to naming their children, celebrities don't really follow trends — they create them. Hollywood's A-listers have a knack for choosing baby names that spark conversation, from whimsical and unconventional to more timeless and elegant picks.

These star-powered selections also have the ability to set the stage for the next big baby-naming trend. So, here are some of the most memorable and unique celebrity baby names that have captured the world's attention.

Scroll to see all the unique celebrity baby names we love...and loathe.

1. Paloma

Campbell "Pookie" Puckett and her husband, Jett Puckett, have taken the social media world by storm with their seemingly picture-perfect romance and lavish lifestyle.

In November 2024, the influencer couple welcomed their daughter, Paloma, into the world after creating a lot of anticipatory hype surrounding their name choice.

Paloma has Spanish and Italian roots and is derived from Latin. It means "dove," in addition to "pigeon" and "butterfly." Those familiar with Greek mythology may recognize doves as symbols of Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

2. Wyatt, Elliotte, and Bennett

Jason Kelce, who spent 13 years playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, and his wife, Kylie Kelce, faced some backlash for the gender-neutral names they chose for their three daughters.

However, gender-neutral monikers are more popular than ever before. And now that the couple has a fourth daughter on the way, they reportedly plan to continue the name trend in their family.

3. Riot

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky made waves in 2023 when they named their second child Riot. The bold, unconventional pick fits right in with the couple's trend of sticking to "R" names, as Rihanna's full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, and A$AP Rocky's is Rakim Athelaston Mayers.

Beyond its personal significance, the name Riot carries a strong, rebellious energy. It definitely reflects both artists' fearless approach when it comes to both music and fashion.

4. Winnie

When Jimmy Fallon and his wife, Nancy Juvonen, had their first daughter in 2013, they chose a somewhat unique name with a lot of personal meaning: Winnie. Welsh in origin, it means "gentle friend" or "friend of peace."

Specifically for the couple, though, it's a tribute to Lake Winnipesaukee, the picturesque New Hampshire lake where they got engaged. Plus, Jimmy added the name made even more sense since they viewed Winnie as a "win" in their life.

5. Grace Warrior

Everyone remembers Steve Irwin as the fearless "Crocodile Hunter" who tragically died in late 2006. More recently, his daughter, Bindi Irwin, welcomed a little girl of her own into the world in 2021 and named her Grace Warrior.

While Grace may be a more common name, meaning "favor" or "blessing," Warrior was a more unusual choice with a sentimental intent.

"Her middle names, Warrior Irwin, are a tribute to my dad and his legacy as the most incredible Wildlife Warrior," Bindi shared on Instagram.

6. River Rose and Remington

Kelly Clarkson and her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, chose two distinctive names for their girl and boy: River Rose, born in 2014, and Remington Alexander, born in 2016.

With British roots and a whimsical feel, River is a gender-neutral pick that means "a flowing body of water." It was traditionally used more frequently for boys, but Kelly changed that trend.

Meanwhile, Remington is also British in origin and started as a surname, translating to "settlement by the boundary stream." Perhaps Kelly chose this sibling combination because both River and Remington begin with "R" and have connections to water.

7. Elsie Otter

When Zooey Deschanel and her then-husband Jacob Pechenik had their daughter in 2015, they chose a name that was both classic and quirky: Elsie Otter.

While Elsie is a timeless choice of Hebrew origin, which means "pledged to God," the addition of Otter gives it a more playful twist. During an appearance on TODAY, Zooey explained their reasoning behind it.

"We just really liked the name Elsie, and then we both love otters because they're so sweet and also smart," she detailed.

"They use tools, they keep their favorite tools, they hold hands while they sleep; there are so many amazing things about otters. They're wonderful animals."

8. Luai

Finally, in 2023, Lindsay Lohan and her husband, Bader Shammas, named their Dubai-born son Luai. It's Arabic in origin and means "protector" or "shield," but it remains a rare pick in the U.S.

Luay, a more common variation of this name, was only given to eight boys born in the U.S. in 2022.

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Google Will Pay You if Your Plane Ticket Drops in Price

Yes, you read that right: no need for frantic “when is the best day to book a flight” searches anymore. Google Flights just launched a price guarantee program designed to save you money.

The new program takes the stress out of planning vacations and traveling by allowing customers to buy their plane tickets worry-free. AKA, if you buy a ticket at $300, and before the flight takes off the price changes to $250, Google will pay you the $50 difference.

Image via Google

According to their website, “Google's algorithms are confident that the price you find is the lowest available before the flight departs. After you book on Google, we'll monitor the price until the first flight in your itinerary departs. If the price drops, we’ll make up the difference.”

In order for you to qualify for any refund, your flight must be booked through select Book on Google itinerarieswithin Google Flights and have a ticket price change of more than $5. You can receive up to $500 back per year for up to three open price guaranteed bookings at any one time. If you qualify, you’ll receive your refund after the first flight in the booked itinerary has taken off.


Additionally, you must book with a U.S. billing address and U.S. mobile phone number. Refunds are sent via Google Pay, so all users must set up the Google Pay app as a U.S. user.

Pretty sweet, right?! We’re all about budget traveling and certainly hope to see more transportation companies adapt this program in the future.

What are your favorite travel hacks, Brit + Co readers? Share them with us in the comments and sign up for our newsletter to get more travel news!

Header image via Hanson Lu/Unsplash

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Meghan Markle Makes Subtle Dig At Drew Barrymore's "Clingy" Behavior With A Six-Word Remark

Drew Barrymore is undoubtedly an acting force to be reckoned with. Viewers everywhere first fell in love with her when she played Gertie in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in 1982. Then, she went on to star in many other major productions, such as The Wedding Singer, Scream, He's Just Not That Into You, and 50 First Dates.

Nowadays, the 50-year-old is still showcasing her on-screen talents, just in a different way. Back in September 2020, she launched a daytime talk show known as The Drew Barrymore Show.

Over the last four years, she's featured a wide range of guests, from Matthew McConaughey and Vanna White to Paris Hilton, Millie Bobby Brown, and Reese Witherspoon. Drew has also become known for having a more touchy-feeling rapport with her guests, which some people have called "clingy."

This seemingly led Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, to make a dig at Drew's behavior during her appearance on the March 6 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show.

Scroll to find out what Meghan Markle said about Drew Barrymore...

Meghan's new show, With Love, Meghan, came out on Netflix the day before. So, she planned to sit down with Drew to discuss her latest project, as well as other topics, including her courtship with Prince Harry and parenthood.

However, some viewers were shocked by an offhand quip that Meghan made during the interview, telling Drew, "I hear you like to connect." She proceeded to soften the blow by taking Drew's hand and claiming her touchy behavior was "so sweet, though."

Again, Drew has a reputation for hugging, touching, and sitting quite close to her guests. Yet Meghan, who has also been called warm and is known to go in for hugs, seemed more reserved and regal.

Despite Meghan's remark and the differences in body language, the pair still delved into some interesting conversation topics. For instance, the Duchess of Sussex detailed how, when she first began dating Prince Harry back in 2016, he made her a vow based on some old advice she'd received.

While Meghan was a college student, she'd worked as a nanny for two different families, and one of the fathers told her, "When you meet your person one day, I want him to say to you the same thing that I said to my wife when we got married, which is, I vowed to always date my wife."

Well, amidst her blossoming romance with Harry, she asked the Prince to make her that same promise. He responded, "I vow to always date you."

According to Meghan, she credits their strong connection to their commitment to treating each other the same way they did prior to tying the knot. In her eyes, holding onto the "good and joy" from the "butterfly period" of courting is what keeps relationships alive.

You can catch The Drew Barrymore Show live on weekdays. To find your local time and station, visit the link here.

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Netflix's New Murder Mystery Show Will Give You The Same "Thrill" As 'Knives Out'

Netflix's new whodunnit is perfect for anyone who's craving a mystery without the stress and anxiety thrillers can have. The Residence follows a very important state dinner at the White House, and trying to identify a murderer among 157 suspects. Definitely tough, but if anyone can do it it's Uzo Aduba!

Here's everything you need to know about Netflix's new show The Residence, starring Uzo Aduba and Randall Park.

What is The Residence about?

Jessica Brooks/Netflix

In The Residence, Uzo Aduba plays Cordelia Cupp, an eccentric detective tasked with solving a murder that took place during a state dinner at the White House. Now she's just up against 132 rooms and 157 suspects from around the world as she tries to find the killer.

And according to one X user, "Ever since I saw Knives Out, I’ve looked for shows/movies that give me the same thrill. Just finished the first episode….found it." Whoa!

Where can I stream The Residence?

Jessica Brooks/Netflix

The Residence is streaming on Netflix now!

Who's in the Residence?

Eerin Simkin/Netflix

The Residence cast features some iconic names alongside Uzo Aduba. Here's the breakdown of the cast and characters!

  • Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp: a detective working with the Metropolitan Police Department.
  • Giancarlo Esposito as A. B. Wynter: Chief Usher at the White House.
  • Susan Kelechi Watson as Jasmine Haney: an Assistant Usher at the White House.
  • Paul Fitzgerald as Perry Morgan: President of the United States.
  • Jason Lee as Tripp Morgan: President Morgan's brother.
  • Ken Marino as Harry Hollinger: President Morgan's chief adviser.
  • Edwina Findley as Sheila Cannon: a butler working at the White House.
  • Randall Park as Edwin Park: FBI Special Agent.
  • Molly Griggs as Lilly Schumacher: President Morgan's social secretary.
  • Al Mitchell as Rollie Bridgewater: Head Butler at the White House.
  • Dan Perrault as Colin Trask: Secret Service Head of the Presidential Detail.
  • Spencer Garrett as Wally Glick: the FBI director.
  • Bronson Pinchot as Didier Gotthard: White House Executive Pastry Chef.
  • Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Larry Dokes: MPD's Chief of Police.
  • Mary Wiseman as Marvella: the White House's Executive Chef.

How many episodes of The Residence are there?

Jessica Brooks/Netflix

There are 8 episodes of The Residence in total, all of which premiered on Netflix on March 20, 2025. Here's the full list of The Residence episodes:

  • Season 1, Episode 1: "The Fall of the House of Usher"
  • Season 1, Episode 2: "Dial M for Murder"
  • Season 1, Episode 3: "Knives Out"
  • Season 1, Episode 4: "The Last of Sheila"
  • Season 1, Episode 5: "The Trouble with Harry"
  • Season 1, Episode 6: "The Third Man"
  • Season 1, Episode 7: "The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb"
  • Season 1, Episode 8: "The Mystery of the Yellow Room"

Did The Residence film in the real White House?

Eerin Simkin/Netflix

The Residence might take place at the White House, but the TV show filmed on a very realistic set on Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles, rather than inside the real mansion.

“The set was not only a replica of the house itself, but also measurement-wise equivalent to what is absolutely already there,” actor GiancarloEsposito told Tudum. “And I’ve been in the real White House, so I know what it looks like. It just deepened my performance to feel like I was in the real place.”

Who was the killer on The Residence?

Erin Simkin/Netflix

By The Residence ending, we learn that Lilly Schumacher, President Morgan's social secretary, is responsible for A.B.'s death. I'm still surprised!

Check out the other Best TV Shows To Watch On Netflix This Month for more streaming ideas.

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