Identifying good practices
Google gives their employees:
A unique working environment, generous benefits, a fair, reasonable and attractive reward
mechanism, equal and respectful working atmosphere and transparent management.
Google was the top in the leaderboard of "Best Employers in the United States in 2011". Google has
formulated high standards of employee welfare policies, such as free food, on-site laundry, dry
cleaning, outdoor sports centers, and invited influencers all around the world to give speeches.
There are not much other companies that can be on par with Google’s generousness on the
employee benefits.
Analysis of good practices
Firstly, they have many indoor and outdoor recreational facilities just to make sure their employees
are always on their best mood during their work. Google had never hesitate on spending a lot of
money building a huge scope of outdoor games center. The Garfield Sports Complex was named
after the street it locates on. It contains a football field, a basketball court, two tennis courts, two
outdoor petanque courts, two horse pits for horseshoe games, a golf course and a hockey field. If
you don’t prefer staying outdoor, you can also consider the bowling alleys and dance room in the
headquarter.
Secondly, they encourages free working behavior. They allows their employees to have fully freedom
on how are they going to do their work. According to the American Cancer Society, women who sat
continuously for more than 6 hours a day are 37% easier to die young compare to women who sat
continuously for less than 3 hours a day. While for men, the percentage is 18%. So, most of the
Google’s employees are willing to be standing during their work. Google has also prepared height
adjustable chairs and tables for each of the employees so that they can always be comfortable with
how they are going to work, no matter standing or sitting. According to its official statistics, there are
currently hundreds of employees that use standing desks. Due to the difference of height of every
standing desk, it has made a unique scenario of Google’s office.
Thirdly, they supply free meals as well as buffet for their employees. Google’s action that supplying a
massive amount, nice and free food for their employees has always been on everybody’s lips among
all the big companies. Google never reduce this benefits as its company keeps on expanding.
Compare to 2007, now Google’s employees has increased to three times of the original numbers. It
had been giving big effort to enhance its ability on food supplying. In the HQ of the company, the
number of buffet restaurant has gone to 25 from 11. Furthermore, in order to let their employees
get enough of nutrition, Google has started to offer each of their employees a 2 pounds fish fillet
worth 25USD, every week since May of 2011.
Other than that, they provide free Android Devices to every employees. In December of year 2010,
they gave each of their employees a brand new, latest model of Samsung smartphone as the
Christmas gift which worth 299USD. Each phone’s back case has been customized with a logo
depends on which Google Services’ department they are working under.
Next, Google allows their employees to have a long break after the born of their child. The workers
will get 18 weeks of paid leave. Google also conduct courses to teach the young parents on how to
take good care of their babies. The employees will also get 500USD once they have their first baby.
