| to think that working at Refresh can be an | | | | foosball. |
| enjoyable experience however after reading | | | | The decoration of the building is also quite unique; |
| through an article featuring the Google campus at | | | | it is not unusual to stumble across the odd grand |
| work this morning; I feel our employee benefits | | | | piano, employee created artwork, an inspiration |
| package may be woefully inadequate. The article | | | | wall or a series of lava lamps. Most of the walls |
| focused on the Googleplex complex which is | | | | and dividers are made of glass so that rather |
| situated a few miles from San Francisco bay and | | | | becoming a labyrinth of cubicles the buildings |
| forms the headquarters for one of the most | | | | remain open and light is easily filtered through. A |
| powerful companies in the technology industry. | | | | large projector displays real time information of |
| Although comparatively dwarfed by Microsofts | | | | searches currently being performed using the |
| Redmond complex, Googleplex currently houses | | | | Google search engine along with traffic patterns |
| two million square feet of office space with an | | | | for the entire Internet which is laid out of a three |
| additional one million feet planned for upcoming | | | | dimensional globe. |
| expansion. It is home to approximately 8,000 | | | | Whilst the size of the campus is physically |
| workers and due to the typically young age of its | | | | impressive, I am particularly fascinated surrounding |
| workforce it has been likened to a college | | | | the attitudes towards those that that work for |
| campus. | | | | Google. Rather than having a simple hierarchical |
| Looking purely at the physical characteristics, the | | | | structure, employees are encouraged to take on |
| Google complex includes: | | | | several rolls and never to limit themselves to their |
| - A number of free cafes that will serve food at | | | | given job description - rather than being told |
| any time of the day; these cafes between them | | | | precisely what to do for the next eight hours |
| serve over 200 different recipes a day. It has | | | | they are encouraged to think outside the box and |
| been estimated by several sources that the cost | | | | designate themselves work. Google actively |
| of running these must amount to approximately | | | | encourages their employees to use up to 20 |
| 72 million dollars yearly. | | | | percent of their working week of projects |
| - Additionally, there are free snack rooms in most | | | | outside of their normal workload - over the years |
| buildings in case the nearest cafe is just too far. | | | | these pet projects have developed in to many of |
| - If the free snacking has made you pile on the | | | | the products I have recommended in Click. |
| pounds, Googleplex houses a gym, swim in place | | | | From what I have seen, working at Google would |
| swimming pools (small pools where a current | | | | appear to be a way of life and not a simple nine |
| keeps you in place whilst you swim against it), | | | | to five - encouraging free thinking and teamwork |
| volleyball courts and organised rollerblading | | | | has resulted in a group of people that have a |
| tournaments. | | | | genuine passion for what they do. Rather than |
| - A free barber is available along with subsidised | | | | requiring a constant whip from a condescending |
| on site massage | | | | manager, the personal development, mutual |
| - Those with children can benefit from the day | | | | respect and encouragement these people enjoy |
| care centre | | | | has resulted in a huge degree of self motivation |
| - To let off a little steam employees can partake | | | | which in turn has created one of the most |
| in a quick game of ping pong, billiards, pool or | | | | successful companies of our generation. |