CareerBuilder.com, the Amazon of job hunting sites, asked employees what workplace perks they'd like the most. Some you'd expect, a few flirt with the fringe and a couple are just plain out there. But, most importantly, two of the top three fall outside of what you'd call an actual employee benefit.

Topping the list is half-day Fridays. A plurality of respondents — 40 percent — picked this. Now, forgiving the specificity of this particular response, I'm guessing this is a way of pointing toward flex time in general. Granted, employers are still firmly in the driver's seat when it comes to employee recruitment and retention, but as that unemployment rate continues to wind down, the tide will turn and issues like flex time — which have been gaining traction for years — will become something that has to be addressed.

(Full disclosure: We have a kind of half-day Friday setup here at our own company during the summer. It is nice, but sometimes the work simply won't allow it. And, going back to normal after Labor Day can be a bit like returning to work after the holidays. I know, sounds like a First World problem, but it's worth mentioning. I think something like that has to be administered very carefully.)

On-site fitness centers ranked second on the list, with 20 percent of those surveyed saying they wanted some time (and a place) to sweat while they're at the office. Call me cynical, but this is something that everyone says they want — especially this time of year — but I'd be willing to bet they suffer pretty low utilization rates. That being said, it would be an invaluable component of any serious wellness program.

The third most popular perk on this is a real dressing down. As in casual dress. Simply put, people want to wear jeans to work. Sounds simple enough, and costs absolutely nothing. I'm betting millennials in particular will drive this trend even further in the years to come. 

The most amusing responses, though, are from those who requested catered lunches and rides to and from work. These smack of Silicon Valley excess and are pipe dreams that rank right up there with European-type vacation plans. Where do these people come from?

Finally, I'm surprised on-site day care ranked so low, rounding out the list's top 10. But maybe being the father of a 3-year-old puts me in the minority.

Now before this survey convinces you to pack it all in, keep in mind these are perks prospective employees said they wanted. These are things to keep in mind — or not — when we're talking about recruitment.

When it comes to retention, employees ranked the two old standbys right up top: salary and benefits.

It might be a new year, but it looks like the more things change the more they stay the same. Both in Washington and your own office.