LinkedIn employee reignites work perks debate in viral TikTok

The perks are so good, you’ll never want to leave.

A LinkedIn employee reignited the work perks debate with a now viral TikTok touting the company’s ritzy workplace benefits.

In the clip, which amassed 1.2 million views, Natasha Badger claimed she went to work at 7 a.m., anticipating she wouldn’t be home until “past midnight.”

But the late nights come with a plethora of perks — eucalyptus towels, in-office cocktails, quiet rooms, complimentary lunches, oh my!

Badger’s “day in the life” clip rekindled the same, long-debated argument over workplace benefits, begging the question: “Where’s the work?”


Natasha Badger at work
Badger regularly documents her day-to-day at work.
@natasha.badger

TikTok day in the life
Her days consist of lavish drinks, fancy meals, in-office hangouts and even an occasional spa day.
@natasha.badger

Workplace perks have steadily rose in popularity among major companies, especially ones where Gen Z dominates the employee demographic. Earlier this year, one TikToker gave insight into what corporate America might look like once boomers become obsolete and the youngest generation claims what they’ve earned.

“You aren’t feeling okay today & need a mental health day? We gotchu. Out of PTO but need an extra day? Not an issue,” the creator wrote in a clip with 765,000 views, listing other Gen Z workplace ideals. “Soon the boomers be out of here and it’s up to us to set the standard.”

As perk proponents, Gen Z workers make up about 25% of the workforce, although critics say the young generation complains the most and acts “entitled,” perhaps as a result of “participation trophies” and excessive coddling.

But a former Google employee revealed those sought-after perks are just a tactic to coerce people into working longer hours for less pay. While working at the tech company, he claimed employees could bring pets to work, receive free meals and utilize free WiFi on company shuttles.

Similarly, Badger, 22, of Chicago, took her followers through her day of working — kind of — hard and playing harder, starting her day with a eucalyptus towel and fresh orange water, followed by breakfast that consisted of fresh fruit, chia seed pudding and coffee in a company mug.


Meals at LinkedIn office
Every meal is served in the office, complete with multiple sides and courses.
@natasha.badger

After cutting to a frame of her scrolling through pages of online shopping, she grabbed a blackberry mojito before heading to a meeting, followed by a fancy lunch.

She then watched her co-workers play ping-pong while sipping a chai latte, followed by some time alone in the company’s quiet rooms, which are used to “relax and unplug from work.” When it was finally time to “buckle down,” she plopped in a chair in the “focus area” with a bag of chips.

But not everyone was convinced she got any work done, while others applauded the company for rewarding their employees with such luxuries.

“‘Went into the quiet room to unplug from work’ WHAT WORK?!?!” asked one disgruntled viewer.


Badger at whole foods
After work, the fun continues with errands and late nights out.
@natasha.badger

“So you’re simply paid to exist?” inquired another.

“How is this considered a more skilled occupation than a cashier or fry cook?” sneered someone else.

“When does the actual work happen??? This sounds like a spa day!” quipped another user.


Badger
While critics slammed Badger for seeming like she wasn’t doing any work, others praised the company for its perks.
@natasha.badger

“Y’all are so miserable in the comments, you are literally seeing TWO MINUTES of her day,” wrote one viewer.

“Seems like a fabulous place to work! The quiet room — every workplace should have one!” commented another.

“If teachers got treated like this even once a month there would not be a shortage!!!!” cheered someone else.

Badger regularly reveals what her “day in the life” of a LinkedIn employee looks like, although there’s no way to know if it’s really just a highlight reel. She shows followers her lavish employee benefits, including new workplace “swag,” various meals available, happy hours and in-office yoga.

Her viral clips, which have garnered a following of thousands, come after the Great Resignation reigned last year among Gen Z workers who felt compelled to quit their miserable jobs. Zoomers, as they’re commonly nicknamed, felt that big companies didn’t prioritize mental health and overall well-being, forcing them to find income from elsewhere.

At major tech giants Meta and Google, employees are beginning to feel similarly as perks, which were once the companies’ selling points, have actually been cut.

Earlier this year, Meta — which runs Instagram and Facebook — said the days of free laundry and dry cleaning were over, seemingly following Google’s footsteps, which cut back on lunches and fitness classes.


Charcuterie board
While some were envious of her at-work perks, others thought it was distracting.
@natasha.badger

“They’re just picking away bit by bit. I think of it like death by a thousand cuts,” an insider at Meta told The Post. “Cutting perks affects morale, it affects how you feel about the company as a whole and how much the execs care about you.”

While large companies may scale back on seemingly needless employee luxuries, they might be skimping out on their workforce and losing potential candidates.

Perks are “in the top five most important things to consider” prior to accepting a job offer, the source continued, and if perks are the deciding factor, a lack of them could make employees “want to leave.”