Some say you catch more flies with honey, and that's something the owners of Canberra's National Circuit know well.
In this case, it's honey from the building's own beehives, a curator's talk on Gauguin, or a lip sync extravaganza.
It's not the only one with perks, either. Canberra's property moguls don't just offer office space to federal public servants - several buildings are serving up the works to keep tenants happy.
Perks for government tenants
National Circuit, owned by ISPT, runs free wellness classes, seasonal celebrations and free bike check-ups for the more than 6000 public servants who work in its buildings, according to the building's management.
Letitia Hope, ISPT head of property experience, said their buildings are designed to be more than office spaces, encouraging productivity, collaboration, and innovation.
"By delivering tailored, memorable experiences, we drive deeper tenant partner engagement, loyalty, and long-term value," she said.
"We host events such as the highly popular Worm Week... since the activation there has been a huge increase in organic waste participation from tenant partners with over 2,000 staff contributing every week."
The six addresses on National Circuit house the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Attorney-General's Department, as well several cafes and restaurants.
Other enticing offers include free ice cream and sessions with therapy dogs at the Nishi building, as part of their tenancy retainment program for the offices' hard-working public servants.
The address on Phillip Law Street is owned by Centuria and is home to the communications branch of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
Canberra's corporate clients have it good, too, with the management of Ernest & Young's Civic building offering a Valentine's Day rose raffle, free restaurant vouchers, and a nature twilight tour giveaway, while Deloitte and Defence personnel at Brindabella Business Park, owned by the Capital Airport Group, are treated to free spring barbecues and community painting sessions.
But the consultants at Canberra's KPMG office might have it best of all, with the management of the 1 Constitution Avenue office giving away tickets to Raiders games and musicals at the Canberra Theatre, as well as serenading workers on their lunch break with a summer music line-up.
No such thing as a free lunch
Canberra Commercial real estate agent Michael Ceacis said building managements don't need to offer extra perks to get lucrative government and corporate leases.
He said government departments are looking at more than free ice cream and fitness sessions when they sign a decades-long lease.
"It's probably more of an image thing, [the property owners] are just doing that to get people in [the office]," he said.
"Events might be done once a month or every few months, but that doesn't really help people turning up, they're only turning up on that day because they know they're getting something for nothing.
"There's a free barbecue or there's a gift, instead of turning up on a Thursday, [office workers] will turn up on Friday."
