Google

First Blog: Looking for a Lesson in Google's Perks.

Summary:

1. Looking for a Lesson in Google’s Perks by James B. Stewart, was published at The New York Times on March 15, 2013.
2. James B Stewart made the comparison between yahoo's employees and the Google's employees and the working criteria between both the companies.
3. According to the Author, Google's philosophy is to make the work place the happiest and the most productive in the whole world.
4. As James mentioned Mr. Newman, 27 years old, who has his PhD in industrial and organizational psychology made Google’s working environment in the best interest of the employees.
5. James mentioned some special attractions like the library, silent room, play stations, napping areas, and dining areas.
6. The author also mentioned that Google lets the employees design their own desk. They can scribble on the walls to express their thoughts.
7. Also James mentioned Dr. Welle saying that they are not trying to be parents but they care about the employees health because research shows that when people cognitively engage with food, they make the better choice.
8. Google wants to give the best environment to work and to live.
9. The author mentions Mr. Nevill-Manning saying that “Google’s success depends on innovation and collaboration.”
10. James mentions a 32 year old Allison Mooney who had great things to say about Google, for example, she said that people actually have a life outside of their work at Google.
11. Allison mentions a number of perks available at Google, such as, once-a-week eyebrow shaping, yoga, etc.
12. There is no gym available at the Manhattan location but there is one available for the employees at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California.
13. James talks about his visit to Teresa Amabile where she says that people have to actually be motivated by the work itself in order for them to be creative.
14. James talks about Ben Waber, who works for Sociometric Solutions and he mentions that in order to shape a community, you have to be there for people, and in your time of need, someone will be there for you.
15. Both experts do not agree with Yahoo bringing in employees from home; the employees might feel like you do not trust them.
16. Amabile thinks that Marissa might have made a mistake by not being clear enough when reaching out to her employees about getting together and experiencing creative excitement.
17. James talks about Google never keep track of which employee is at work or not. However, they do have your responsible for your own work schedule with your team.
18. Ms. Mooney loves her job at Google. Even when she tried to take a day off, she ended up right back at work. People aren’t forced to come in, they want to come in.        

Opinion:

After reading the article written by the James B. Stewart, I personally believe that Google’s working environment is a very good and an interesting environment to work where the employees have been taken care of by the employers. I am very much fond of Jordan Newman’s philosophy, “to create the happiest, most productive workplace in the world” because every employee wants to work in a place where there will be no restrictions and the working environment is just like the home environment.

Also I believe that the educated management can be more understanding of the employee’s psychology rather than the uneducated management but I can’t ignore the exceptional cases. As an employee I always want to work in the caring company where the employer can understand your situation and takes care of you. I would love to work in the company where I can get a office that will be designed by me. Also it will have my favorite stuff. I will enjoy working in this environment. In this way no one can get frustrated or irritate by the environment.

Also there are so many interesting parts of Google e.g. Library, play stations napping place dining areas; I believe no one can neglect that working place. I would be exceptionally happy knowing that there are so many ways to just relax and unwind at Google. There are numerous activities provided at Google, example yoga, once-a-week eyebrow shaping, and so on. People need to take times out of their busy work life to relax a bit and do some physical exercise. For someone that cares about her health a lot, I feel that this is the most beneficial way of keeping healthy and to cope with my daily stress.

As we all know that “the health choices are front-loaded”. I believe having lots of healthy stuff doesn’t matter in a working environment but if the employer provides this in the company, it will make a different impact in the employee’s point of view. Just like the author mentioned that Google provides the healthier stuff like almonds, peanut etc; it shows the caring nature towards the employees. Also, according to Dr. Welle, we will consume more if that is visible. So in short, if Google wants work from the workers/employees it also takes care of the health of the employee as well. I believe this is the best policy to take honest work from the workers/employees.

Learning about all of the advantages at Google, I definitely do envy how they get treated as employees. Google doesn’t feel the need to track down every employee and set out rules for each and every worker. They allow the workers to make their own work schedule and they are very flexible. If I were to compare Yahoo and Google, I would say that Google is way well off. They have more to offer as a company to the public and as well as to their employees.

I don’t think Yahoo should force their employees into the office. Google doesn’t feel like the need in doing that because Google’s employees deliver their work and they have a system that everyone follows. People enjoy what they do at Google because Google gives them their space and allows them to express their thoughts by scribbling on the walls. Yahoo wants authority over what their employees are doing because they feel that that’s the best thing for Google right now.

Questions/feedback:

1. If you had the opportunity to work at Google, would you leave your current job and join Google?
2. Do you think it’s important for jobs to provide perks like Google? E.g., yoga, Pilates, and other physical exercise during free times?
3. Do you agree that Yahoo bringing all their employees together will benefit the company?
4. Do you think that every employee should have control over their own work schedules and how they deliver their work?
5. Google pushes the boundaries in its workplace. Do you think that employees are given too much freedom?
6. Do you feel that it’s important to have your workplace shaped like a community?

If I were ever given the opportunity to work at Google, I would take it in a heartbeat. Google actually respects their employees and leaves it completely up to them to get work done, wherever they want to get it done from. There are many perks provided at Google, therefore you don’t actually have to leave your workplace and go out of your way. Physical activity is provided at Google and keeping fit and healthy is very important.

Reference:

James B. Stewart. (2013, March 15). Looking for a Lesson in Google's Perks.

Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/business/at-google-a-place-to-work-and-play.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&\