In the work environment, employee satisfaction and productivity are highly influenced by the company’s working culture. While a number of factors contribute to the happiness of the staff, studies show that control and empowerment have the biggest effect on employee motivation and productivity (Regain Your Time, 2013). Today, employee opinions about the companies they work for and management styles are readily available online, putting company reputation and image continuously at risk.
Glassdoor Employee Choice Awards provides a platform through which the best working environments are honored by evaluating employee opinions about the workplace, culture, and management. With a rating of 4.3, Google stands out as one of the top rated companies (Glassdoor, 2016). Google is famous for its creative innovations such as Chrome web browser, Fast Flip, Google Plus and Google Wave. The company has retained the interest and loyalty of its consumer base by releasing products and services through an informal product-development system.
Google's culture is built around its vision, values, and practices. The company's vision and mission statement is simple, incorporates the company's values and provides a purpose that guides employee decisions. Some of the perks listed by Google employees are the food, massages, gym, discounts and a corporative working environment. It is this seemingly relaxed and informal setting that inspires employees to collaborate and come up with exceptional products and services for its customers.
In a highly competitive economy, Google has managed to maintain a productive working environment and healthy company culture. The company attributes this success to sustaining happy and healthy employees (The Economist, 2009). Google believes that people are their greatest asset and consequently visibly invests in them. By ensuring employee satisfaction, Google reduces employee turnover to a minimum, and this helps them retain the most vibrant and brilliant minds in the workforce.
I aspire to work at Google or for a company that emulates Google's working environment and culture. Not only are the listed perks a bonus, but it is also nearly impossible to find a negative employee review about the company. What appeals to me most is the value the company places on its employees. I feel it is crucial to boost employee morale, and a sure way to do so is for managers to recognize and appreciate the efforts made by company staff.
Google’s environment is filled with intelligent and driven people from all walks of life. Such diversity is a sure way to initiate productive interactions. I would love to work at Google because the company provides sufficient resources for its employees and allows for a flexible working environment in regards to work schedule and workstation. Moreover, Google office designs are nothing short of innovative works of art. I believe that a company that puts in that much creative effort in fashioning unique working spaces is a corporation worth devoting my time, skills and resourcefulness.
References
Glassdoor. (2016). Glassdoor - Best Places to Work. Retrieved 22 February 2016, from
https://www.glassdoor.com/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm
Google.com. (2016). Company – Google. Retrieved 22 February 2016, from
https://www.google.com/about/company/
Regain Your Time. (2013). How Corporate Culture Affects Productivity - Regain Your Time.
Retrieved 22 February 2016, from http://regainyourtime.com/how-corporate-culture-affects-productivity/
The Economist. (2009). Creative tension. Retrieved 22 February 2016, from
http://www.economist.com/node/14460051
