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Re:Ask HN: How do you evaluate a job offer and the company o... by Declanomous on Tuesday March 28, 2017 @03:33PM (#13979880)
When I graduated from college and was applying for literally everything, I started a list of companies who had pictures of ping-pong tables in their job postings. They always appeared to be included as proof that the company was 'fun'.

Call me cynical, but I think those "perks" exist purely for marketing purposes. The greatest expense of a ping-pong table is almost certainly the space it takes up in the office, and overall I'd say it's a relatively inexpensive marketing tactic, and it's definitely a cheap line item when it comes to employee perks as well.

The biggest issue with ping pong, and similar games (bubble hockey, foosball, bags), is that if you need a break, you will need to find someone else to take it with you. Furthermore, you are basically broadcasting to the entire workplace that you aren't working at the moment, which is disruptive even if they break is well-deserved.

I worked at a place that had something like that, and I literally never saw anyone playing it.

Re:Ask HN: How do you evaluate a job offer and the company o... by Spoom on Wednesday March 29, 2017 @02:05PM (#13988952)
Had a ping pong table at the old office, can confirm was never used.
Re:Ask HN: How do you evaluate a job offer and the company o... by dllthomas on Thursday March 30, 2017 @03:55PM (#13998382)
The foosball table at my last place of work definitely saw use. It was away from work areas, mind you.