Perks

Of course, for yesterday’s youngsters, the only incentive to do well at school was the prospect of being spared a flogging, but things are different for the Harry Potter generation. Two recent stories in The Times, one headlined “McDonald’s offers US children free fast food for good schoolwork”, and another entitled “Well-behaved pupils given video games and executive perks”, suggest that kids are increasingly being incentivised like company employees. But are teachers wise to seek inspiration from business? Do perks actually work?

On the face of it, it seems that they must. Why else would companies put so much effort into providing them? A couple of years ago I visited a PR company called Fishburn Hedges and was shocked to discover that its staff, in addition to traditional benefits such as gym membership, were offered pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, Valentine gifts on February 14, ice-cream on hot days, company-wide drinks on promotion, presents on wedding days and visits from senior management on hospitalisation.

But these perks do not seem particularly indulgent after my discovery this week that…

Read atTimes Online