Money at Work: Hidden Employee Perks That Save You Money
The Job Perks You Forget You Have
Most people know their job offers health insurance and maybe a retirement plan. But many workplaces also offer extra benefits and perks that quietly save money: discount programs, legal plans, pet insurance, free or cheap meals, store discounts, and more. Some of them are worth a lot. Some of them are not worth it for you. And some of them only help if you remember they exist.
I have been guilty of forgetting. One job I had offered a free travel agency for employees to use for personal trips. It was the same agency that booked our company travel. I forgot all about it and booked trips on my own, when I could have had help at no cost.
This post is part of the Money at Work series. It walks you through the kinds of extra perks many employers offer, what to watch out for, and how to decide whether a perk will actually save you money.
Employee Perks: What Counts as a Workplace Benefit?
Workplace perks and extra benefits usually fall into two groups:
Free perks: Your employer pays for them or gets them free for you, like a discount program, an employee assistance program, or employee meals.
Voluntary benefits: Extra coverage you can choose to buy, often through payroll deduction, like a legal plan, pet insurance, identity theft protection, or accident insurance.
Free perks cost you nothing to try. Voluntary benefits cost money every paycheck, so they need a closer look.
Employee Discount Programs Like Working Advantage
Many employers sign up for discount programs that give employees special prices. One example is Working Advantage, an entertainment benefits and perks program offered through employers.
Employees usually log in through a private, company-sponsored account.
Programs like Working Advantage typically offer discounts on things like:
Movie tickets and theme parks
Concerts, sporting events, and theater shows
Hotels and vacation packages
Museums, tours, and local attractions
At some employers, signing up is free for employees. Ask your HR office or check your benefits website to see if your company offers Working Advantage or a similar program. Many companies use other discount platforms with different names, so look for words like "perks," "discounts," or "employee savings."
Group Legal Plans
A group legal plan lets you pay a monthly amount, often through payroll deduction, for access to lawyers for common legal needs. Depending on the plan, that may include phone advice, wills and estate planning, real estate matters, traffic tickets, or help with debt collection issues. Some plans also include identity restoration help.
A legal plan can be a good deal if you know you need legal help soon, like writing a will, buying a home, or dealing with a family legal matter. It may not be worth it if you go years without needing a lawyer.
Pet Insurance
Some employers offer pet insurance as a voluntary benefit. It helps cover vet bills for accidents and illnesses, and some plans add wellness care.
Here is something important to know: most pet insurance works by reimbursement. You pay the vet bill first, then send in a claim, and the insurance pays you back part of it. If you do not have the money to pay the vet up front, the insurance may not help you in the moment you need it most.
Other Perks Worth Looking For
Free or discounted meals: Many fast food and restaurant jobs give employees free or cheap meals during their shifts. That can save a lot on lunch and dinner every week.
Store discounts: Many retail jobs give employees a percentage off in-store purchases.
Travel help: Some companies offer travel agencies or travel discounts for personal trips.
Identity theft protection: Monitoring and help recovering if your identity is stolen.
Accident and critical illness insurance: Pays you a lump sum if you have a covered accident or a serious illness like cancer. That money can help with deductibles, rent, or other bills.
Auto, home, and renters insurance: Some employers offer group rates you can pay through payroll deduction.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Often includes free, private counseling sessions, legal referrals, or financial coaching.
Wellness perks: Gym discounts, wellness challenges, or rewards for health screenings.
All of these can save money. But only if they fit your life.
Before You Sign Up: Four Questions to Ask
Every extra benefit sounds good on the sign-up page. Before you add one, ask yourself these questions.
1. How much will I spend, and what will it pay out?
Weigh what you will pay over a year against what you are likely to get back. A benefit that costs a few dollars a paycheck adds up quickly over 26 paychecks.
2. Would I actually use it?
A legal plan does not help if you never call the lawyer. A gym discount does not help if you never go.
3. Will I remember to use it?
This is the one that got me with the free travel agency. Write your perks down somewhere you will see them, like a note on your phone or a page in your planner.
4. Do I have to pay up front and get reimbursed later?
If a benefit only pays you back after you pay, you need money on hand to use it. That can be a big problem when money is tight.
The Pay-Up-Front Trap
I learned this one the hard way. My car insurance covered towing, but it worked by reimbursement. When I needed a tow, I had to pay first and get the money back later, and I did not have the money up front.
So I switched to AAA. I paid for the membership ahead of time, and then when I needed a tow, I did not have to worry about coming up with the money right then.
Here is the truth I found: when life happens, I was usually also financially broke. Emergencies do not wait for payday. That is why it matters so much to know whether a benefit pays you back later or takes care of the cost when it happens. If it pays you back later, ask yourself honestly whether you could cover that bill today.
Do the Math: Two Simple Examples
These numbers are made up, just to show how to think it through. Use your own plan's numbers.
Example 1: Pet Insurance
Say pet insurance costs $35 a month, with a $250 deductible, and it pays back 80% after the deductible.
Yearly cost: $35 × 12 = $420
A healthy year: Your pet only needs a checkup that the plan does not cover. You paid $420 and got nothing back.
A hard year: Your pet has a $1,500 emergency. You pay the $1,500 first. The plan pays 80% of what is left after the $250 deductible: $1,500 − $250 = $1,250, and 80% of $1,250 = $1,000 back to you.
Your total cost that year: $1,500 − $1,000 + $420 = $920, compared to $1,500 with no insurance.
So the plan saved $580 in the hard year and cost $420 in the healthy year. And in the hard year, you still needed $1,500 on hand to pay the vet first.
Example 2: A Legal Plan
Say a legal plan costs $18 a month. That is $18 × 12 = $216 a year. If you know you need a will and help with a home purchase this year, and those would cost more than $216 on your own, the plan may be worth it. If you sign up "just in case" and never use it, that is $216 a year gone.
Some people sign up the year they need legal help, then drop the plan at the next open enrollment if they no longer need it. Check your plan's rules first.
The Clearance Aisle Problem
Discounts only save money if you would have bought the thing anyway. A 20% employee discount on something you did not need is not savings. It is spending.
I know myself. I could never work retail, because my paycheck would end up in the clearance aisle. Before you use a discount, ask: Was I going to buy this anyway? If the answer is no, the best deal is to walk away.
Not Sure About a Perk? Check With Your HR Department
Every employer is different, and perks can change from year to year. If you are unsure whether you have any of the perks in this post, or any benefit in the Money at Work series, check with your HR department. They can tell you what is offered, who is eligible, how to sign up, and whether you pay up front or get reimbursed.
How to Find Your Company's Hidden Perks
Look around your company intranet. Search for "perks," "discounts," "benefits," or "employee savings."
Read your benefits guide. Extra benefits are often listed near the end.
Ask HR. Ask, "Are there any perks or discount programs most people don't know about?"
Ask coworkers. People who have been there a while often know the best perks.
Check during open enrollment. This is often the only time you can add voluntary benefits like legal plans or pet insurance.
Small Steps to Find Money You Are Leaving Behind
Finding and using your perks can feel like one more chore. The heart of Surviving Life Lessons is breaking big problems into small, manageable steps. Here are some SMART-style examples:
"This week, I will search my company intranet for the words perks and discounts and write down what I find."
"By the end of the month, I will make one list on my phone of every perk my job offers."
"Before open enrollment, I will do the math on one voluntary benefit I am thinking about."
"Before my next big purchase or trip, I will check my employee discount program first."
"This month, I will ask myself whether I could pay for a tow or a vet bill up front, and start a small emergency fund if I could not."
If a step feels too big, make it smaller. If a time frame feels too short, give yourself more time.
Making These Steps Fit Your Life
Every job offers different perks, and every family needs different things. A pet owner, a parent, and someone who travels a lot may get value from completely different benefits. Look at your own life and choose the perks that fit. If you sign up for something that does not work out, drop it at the next chance and try something else. You can also learn from others. That is why we have free community groups, where people share the money-saving tips that have worked for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Working Advantage?
Working Advantage is an employee discount and perks program that employers offer to their workers. It typically includes discounts on movie tickets, theme parks, live events, hotels, and attractions.
Is pet insurance through work worth it?
It depends on your pet, your budget, and whether you can pay the vet first. Most pet insurance reimburses you after you pay, so you need money available when your pet needs care.
Are employee discounts really savings?
Only if you were already planning to buy the item. A discount on something you did not need is still spending.
How do I find out what perks my job offers?
Check your company intranet and benefits guide, ask HR, and ask coworkers who have been there a while.
Where to Go From Here
Workplace perks are easier to use when you can swap tips with others. At Surviving Life Lessons, we believe in life survivors helping life strugglers. Our Saving, Budgeting & Frugal Living Group is a great place to share the perks and discounts that have saved you money, and our Debt & Money Struggles Support Group understands what it feels like when an emergency hits before payday. You can also browse our Community Groups Catalog to find every group that fits where you are right now.
Next, read Money at Work: A Simple Guide to Your Work Benefits or Money at Work: 10 Reasons to Get an HSA While You're Young and Healthy.
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References
Brown University Human Resources: "Bear Bargains and Working Advantage", https://hr.brown.edu/benefits-wellness/work-life/bear-bargains-working-advantage
Johns Hopkins University Hub: "Voluntary benefits available to you", https://hub.jhu.edu/at-work/2022/10/13/voluntary-benefits-available-to-you/
Working Advantage: "Employee discount and reward programs", https://www.workingadvantage.com/partner.php
About the Author:
Deborah Ann Martin is the founder of Surviving Life Lessons, a published author, poet, speaker, and trainer with over 20 years of management experience across multiple industries. An MBA graduate, U.S. veteran, single mother, and rare cancer survivor, Deborah brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her writing on resilience, leadership, personal growth, and overcoming adversity. Her mission is to empower others with practical wisdom and real-life insight to navigate life’s challenges with strength and purpose.
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