[nicholassmith]

A lot of the time the benefits are there to 'sweeten the deal', their monetary value to a business is low. Turning them down won't net you their perceived value on top of your wages, they're also not a lock in to a single employer as for the most part most employers offer the same benefits, more often than not sold from the same group.

Plus I can't imagine anything more soulless than going to work every day and thinking that I'm there til I'm gone. Almost like getting into a relationship and thinking its just for the moment. Our jobs shouldn't rule our lives but it almost sounds like the author is just grinding it out, rather than throwing yourself in and revelling in the joy of the work you get to do.

Maybe I'm weird though.