Deloitte's US employees can now buy $1,000 of Lego on the company's dime to boost their well-being
Deloitte US offers its employees a $1,000 well-being subsidy to spend on things like gym memberships.
The policy was updated in June to add several new items to the approved list, including Lego sets.
"Lego?!?!? Finally!" was the reaction in internal chats, one Deloitte employee told Business Insider.
Surviving the gruelling hours and high demands of a job in consulting isn't easy.
Deloitte has a new solution to help its employees handle the stress: Lego.
The Big Four professional services firm has updated its long-running well-being subsidy program to include "Legos and puzzles" on a list of items that Deloitte will reimburse, internal policy documents seen by Business Insider show.
The firm has long offered eligible US staff an annual subsidy to spend on one or a combination of subscriptions, equipment, and experiences. In 2021, the firm doubled the allowance from $500 to $1,000, an internal webpage shows.
The subsidy is meant to "empower and support your journey toward thriving mentally, physically, and financially and living your purpose," the policy documents say.
Most partners and salaried workers are offered the benefit. Interns, contracted professionals, and employees on a leave of absence are not eligible.
One Deloitte US employee told BI that people were discussing the new updates in internal team chats.
"Most of the responses are things like 'Lego?!?!? Finally!' or jokes about how they can now rationalize buying the coveted Millennium Falcon Star Wars Lego set," the employee said.
Lego's most expensive set, the Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series Millennium Falcon, costs $850, leaving Deloitte workers with a small allowance left over to spend on other qualifying items like fencing classes or neck pillows.
A second Deloitte employee told BI that they see the subsidy as a nod of appreciation from the company for dealing with the stress and frustrations of their job.
"This makes a huge difference! I personally like to think of what I need/want for the next subsidy. I have been able to upgrade my workspace, and it helps with the work intake," the person said.
They added that Lego was receiving a lot of attention in the office, as it was a departure from the basics. "Knocking out a four-hour Lego build in under two hours is a great stress reliever," the employee said.
Lego is just one of several new additions to the list of approved items, which were updated on June 1, the start of Deloitte's financial year.
Under a section titled "what's new for FY26" are kitchenware and kitchen appliances (e.g., blender, refrigerator), spa services like facials and body treatments, personal portable cooling fans, and ergonomic, cooling, and sleeping pillows.
Employees can also spend the subsidy on items like office furniture, gym equipment, financial support apps, fitness classes, and gaming consoles, including the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation.
Deloitte US did not respond to a request for comment from BI.
Not all are as positive about the subsidy program, with one Deloitte US employee telling BI they think it is only given "because of how much this job sucks."
The US division of Deloitte has faced a challenging period after its contracts with the government came under scrutiny as part of the White House Office's efforts to cut federal spending.
By April, at least 127 of the firm's government contracts had been cut or modified, according to BI's analysis of data on the DOGE website.
That month, Deloitte Consulting CEO Jason Salzetti said in an internal meeting that a "small percentage" of workers in the firm's government division would be laid off. Employees told BI that DOGE's actions had shifted the climate at Deloitte.
The US branch of Deloitte had 172,800 employees in 2024, when it last reported head count.
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