[crazygringo]

> Why are we assuming it would go to salaries?

Because companies generally budget for total compensation and then divide between salary and perks, and because employees generally compare offers using total compensation rather than just salary.

> This line of reasoning makes any workplace perk into an act of infantilisation

Of course it can, but it exists on a spectrum. Things like 401(k) matching and healthcare and toilet paper aren't infantilizing because they're cheaper or have tax benefits when provided through the company, and most people use them. So they're simply a win-win. On the other hand, if a company provides a lower salary but free housing, that can be extremely infantilizing since a big part of adult autonomy is balancing a lot of factors in choosing where to live.

Things like free meals, rec rooms, laundry, and haircuts are generally more on the infantilizing side of things, since a lot of employees would just prefer cash instead. Lunches provided at-cost can make a lot of sense though when restaurants are far away though -- it's not infantilizing because you still pay for lunch, but it's win-win because the company isn't making a profit off of you like restaurants do.

[skyyler]

>it's not infantilizing because you still pay for lunch

I don't buy it, they've still made the decision of where you're getting your food for you. The only way to escape infantilisation is to never be an employee. Why would you let mommy and daddy tell you what projects you're allowed to work on?

[crazygringo]

No they haven't, because you have the choice to save money and bring lunch from home. That's the whole point.

And no, there's nothing inherently infantile about being employed, because you're freely entering into a work contract. But what is adult and mature is exchanging your professional work for money. What isn't adult and mature is your company starting to provide things that aren't related to work or the workplace at all.

[edejong]

FTR, I read this thread. You’re 100% right but probably misunderstood because new generations have not known anything else.

To me, when employees took company healthcare insurance in the US as a perk, I think the problems began. It’s worse than infantalising. It is creating servitude. “Work, lest thou looses their primal needs of bodily integrity.”

[skyyler]

You can decide to bring lunch from home at a company that provides lunch as a perk.

Either way, I'm glad I don't care about appearing adult and mature to my peers.