When it comes to happiness, money only goes so far before the fatigue and stress buildup kicks in. Employee benefits were created as a means of giving workers that much needed incentive to stick around for the long haul. The idea is to make the worker’s life easier and less stressful.

There is one problem though: not all employee benefits are created equal. True, some of them are prized by employees, such as medical benefits and student loan repayment, but some are just despised. Don’t be afraid to go back to the drawing board to strip these employee benefits from their roots once and for all. Here are 6 ‘benefits’ that serve absolutely no purpose.

1. Unlimited Vacation

Unlimited vacations are like a double edged sword, in that, employees can’t just take off from work and leave their assignments to coworkers. This enforces a work culture which frowns upon taking time off from work, including the standard 2 or 3 weeks. Most companies try to create workload in such a way that it binds them to their work. The solution? Just put a number next to ‘vacation’. 2 weeks off? 3 weeks off?

2. Promotions that Don’t Make Any Sense

Some employees come to a dreadful realization very early on in their roles: they have a dead-end job with no growth prospects. This is where gimmicky promotions come in to play. Every now and then, companies award their employees at redundant positions with new titles to give them a sense of growth. In truth, promotions should be genuine efforts that meaningfully advance your employee’s knowledge and training.

3. There is no Such Thing as an “Open Door Policy”

In an effort to appear overly friendly, many companies tout an open door policy that encourages complete transparency. The truth is that no company can tolerate a place where you can share information with unauthorized personnel without any repercussions. It doesn’t make any sense.

4. Benefits That Don’t Apply to Employees

Good employee benefits are designed around the wants and needs of your workers, not the other way round. For instance, you can’t expect an employee with a 10 year career to appreciate student loan repayment programs. Chances are, they’ve already done that long ago when they started their careers. Other examples include.

5. Free Junk Food

Junk food is already an epidemic in many organizations. Making them free is not going to solve any problems. In fact, it’s only going to make people more addicted to a sugar rush. Plus, free unhealthy foods don’t promote productivity and causes employees to slack off.

6. Forced Participation in ‘Fun’ Activities

Some people are not motivated by social activities and prefer to spend their personal time at home, not participating in yet another team building activity. Keep things optional and on a voluntary basis, and make sure the higher-ups don’t judge employees who don’t’ want to participate.

At JS Benefits Group, our consultants help you identify perks and benefits that actually work. Click here for free consultation.