Places I've worked, I'm not aware they ever had severance, stock options or RSUs, or free snacks. One job had free keurig cups, and one job had free coffee in the form of a couple of pots in the morning that got pretty burnt tasting later in the day. Government and government contractors have had zero free stuff - there's a keurig machine where I work if you want to buy your own k-cups.
Then again, I've never been laid off. The most "office space" like jobs that pay the worst sometimes are aware that they can't easily hire people and so shrink by attrition over time. "Good times" mean a non-zero 401k match. Not so good times mean they remove the option of buying company stock in the 401k, because you might sue if it ruins your retirement hopes.
I'm not saying this is all that terrible, because I don't think it is. It just puts the tech layoffs that get publicity in perspective. If you get laid off at a normal company, you might - gasp - have to file for unemployment!
People who need stability do trade it for salary. The union where I work can't even strike, but our pay is up over 10% from a year ago.
Then again, I've never been laid off. The most "office space" like jobs that pay the worst sometimes are aware that they can't easily hire people and so shrink by attrition over time. "Good times" mean a non-zero 401k match. Not so good times mean they remove the option of buying company stock in the 401k, because you might sue if it ruins your retirement hopes.
I'm not saying this is all that terrible, because I don't think it is. It just puts the tech layoffs that get publicity in perspective. If you get laid off at a normal company, you might - gasp - have to file for unemployment!
People who need stability do trade it for salary. The union where I work can't even strike, but our pay is up over 10% from a year ago.