Google is without doubt one of the most well-known technology firms on the planet. With an estimated revenue of 305 billion dollars (2023), Google is certainly one of the world’s most recognised household names.
Jobs at Google are in high demand, with the application process being highly competitive. People are inspired by what the company has achieved throughout the years and want to help contribute to the success. However, Google also offers a truly unique work culture with a number of benefits and perks.
According to the organisation’s filings (2022), Google now employees 187,000 people worldwide. It isn’t surprising that a corporation of this size has to carefully consider how to motivate their staff and keep employees happy.
How does Google motivate their employees?
Google motivates their employees with flexibility, free perks, health and happiness benefits and the ‘150 Feet from Food Rule’. Offering a totally unique way of working, the tech giant is one of the most popular and favoured employers in the world. From giving employees the freedom to work on their own passion projects, investing in staff health and wellness, as well as offering other great free perks, Google motivates their employees in multiple different ways.
Here are some of the main motivation strategies and employee engagement initiatives offered at Google:
1. Flexibility:
At Google, staff are encouraged to dedicate 20% of their workweek to focus on a project of their choice. This gives staff the freedom to experiment and work flexibly in areas that interest them, which can be hugely motivating. Creativity can be explored and more new ideas formed while working on a project tailored to the employees specialities. A more structured approach to an employee’s workload can often lead to a lack of inspiration and a less stimulating workplace.
2. Free Perks:
Google aims to put in the same amount of time into keeping employees happy as it does to research into its products. There are several perks available when working at Google that most companies do not offer their employees, including things such as:
- Free meals
- Free haircuts
- Gym memberships
- Wellness programmes
- Shuttles to and from work
- New parents get extra time off and extra spending money to help them welcome their new addition to the family.
- Hybrid working schemes
- Health insurance
- Google will also reimburse any classes or degree programmes employees take to help them progress in their role!
3. Health and happiness:
Google doesn’t stop searching for ways to improve the health and happiness for their employees, including the addition of on-site physicians and nurses, convenient medical services and comprehensive health care coverage to help keep staff healthy and happy.
The company enjoys making the life of its employees easier and better. Google says it’s all about removing barriers so that ‘Googlers’ can focus on the things they love both inside and outside of work.
4. 150 Feet from Food Rule:
When you walk into Google’s offices there is a big emphasis on food. In fact there is a rule that wherever ‘Googlers’ go they don’t have to go far to access food – less than 150 feet for Google’s East Coast HQ!
Free food is an excellent way for Google to motivate their staff! Whether it be in one of their micro-kitchens or a larger cafeteria, it is a convenient prospect for all employees. Google also encourages their employees to eat healthily, with unhealthy foods hidden behind opaque glasses and jars with nutritional labels to avoid over consumption.
A People-first Approach
The emphasis on employee satisfaction has been a priority at Google since day one. The main goal of founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin was to make Google a place where the most talented people wanted to work. The idea was and is simple – creating a work culture that keeps employees happy will motivate them to do their best and will keep them loyal to the company.
Managers at Google are encouraged to give as much feedback and praise to their employees as possible. This helps to foster a culture of excellence, empowering team members with the ability to take on their work confidently. This attitude in the workplace drives greatness and success, motivating employees to work hard to achieve personal and company goals.
The benefit of workplace motivation strategies
Motivation is a key driver of employee performance, satisfaction, and retention. In today’s competitive job market, companies need to not only attract top talent but also retain and inspire their employees to achieve long-term success. Creating a people-first company culture focussing on the motivation of employees can help with:
Attracting and Retaining Talented Employees
Nowadays, employers that are perceived as inspiring and supportive of their staff are much more likely to attract top talent. The majority of skilled candidates are not just looking for a job, but for an environment with opportunities to learn, grow, and develop their careers. Therefore, companies that provide a culture of personal growth can have a significant advantage in recruiting the best talent.
Retaining employees is also crucial for the long-term success of any organisation. When employees enjoy their work, feel appreciated and valued, they are more likely to remain with the company. Effective motivation strategies can reduce turnover rates, which saves time and money on recruiting and training new employees.
Improving Employee Productivity
Motivated employees are more productive and engaged in their work, which will positively impact any company’s performance and profits. Employee motivation is enhanced when employees are provided with challenging and meaningful work, as well as opportunities for personal and professional growth. Effective motivation strategies like the ones used at Google can lead to greater job satisfaction, which translates into more innovation, creativity, and a higher quality of work.
How can you motivate your own employees?
In 2024, it is more important than ever to motivate your team. You might not be able to completely re-engineer your perk and incentive infrastructure at work. However, a simple and effective way to motivate staff is through various team away days and team building events.
At Team Tactics, we pride ourselves on promoting togetherness and collaboration by hosting a wide variety of corporate team building activities for businesses across the UK. Our aim is to increase productivity and improve morale by giving teams new and unique experiences.
With a wide range of both indoor team building activities and outdoor events, we are sure to offer the perfect activity for your workforce. Explore the capital with a London treasure hunt, or have your colleagues work together and battle it out with Robot Wars! Our portfolio is award-winning and extensive – get in touch with us today and give your staff a day to remember!
