It seems the ‘war’ for talent is still at a fever pitch at some organizations…at least if we gauge it by the corporate perks offered. Okay, maybe it’s not quite at the same level of the dot.com heydays, but we’ve all heard about the companies that offer gourmet cafeterias and concierge services for their employees. All of these additional perks still conjure up concern that they’re fooling employees into working more and spending greater time at the workplace. For the latest, see Can A Workplace Be Too Enticing? at the Fast Company Experts Blog. Are we really still experiencing a hangover from the dot.com days?

Let’s consider the true purpose of the ‘perk.’ In the non-profit world, these benefits help make up for the lower-than-standard salaries. In the corporate world, perks may be what set two similar companies apart. At organizations that are great places to work, cool perks add to this feeling…they’re the cherry on top of the hot fudge sundae. On the other hand, cool perks at a crap job aren’t going to make that job any more palatable. It’s idiotic window dressing that won’t fool smart people for very long.