Why is Google so great? - Great Place to Work Institute

Why is Google so great? Google Is #1 on this year's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For®of the management team any question and that the executives should talk with employees asopenly as possible. No question is off-limits. Questions from past sessions include "What areGoogle's growth rate projections?" and "When is Google relocating to Mars?" TGIFs arewebcast to Google offices around the globe and archived for those who cannot make themeeting due to time zone or other scheduling challenges.• At Google, there are many internal e-mail lists dedicated to the discussion of particular ideas,issues and complaints. For example, on the "Google Ideas" website, Googlers regularly submittheir thoughts on product improvements or provide suggestions about how to makethings better around Google. Their colleagues can then weigh-in by providing their feedbackthrough comments and ratings - from 0 (Dangerous or harmful if implemented) to 5 (Greatidea! Make it so). The management team pays very close attention and is responsive to issuesthat Googlers deem important enough to discuss on one of their internal e-mail lists. Sometimes,the conversations started on one of these e-mail threads have actually become thetopic of a larger discussion at a TGIF.• At the quarterly "Kick-Off" meeting for Google's North American Sales Organization, theSales Vice President discussed the team's performance against quarterly objectives and announcedgroup stretch goals for the coming quarter. These quarterly meetings are capped offby the Global Sales and Operations Conference, to which Google's entire sales force (as wellas any employees who are in the San Francisco Bay Area) is invited to attend. The Conferenceincludes three days of presentations from senior leaders, guest speakers and trainingworkshops. The highlight is the very candid, no-holds-barred Q&A session with Google's entiresenior management team.Best Practices that Show RespectRespect is demonstrated through practices that provide professional support toemployees, encourage collaboration and allow for expressions of care both in theworkplace and outside. Professional support is shown to employees through theprovision of training opportunities and the resources and equipment necessary toget work done, as well as through the expressions of appreciation for accomplishmentsand extra effort. Collaboration between employees and management requiresthat leaders and managers genuinely seek and respond to employees’ suggestions and ideas,and involve people in the decisions that affect how they get their work done. Managers demonstratecaring by providing a safe and healthy working environment, and by showing an interest inpeople’s personal lives. Caring managers are also aware of the impact the work has on employees’personal lives.• Google promotes the professional growth and development of its employees through aneducation reimbursement plan. Googlers can be reimbursed up to $8000 per calendar year onpre-approved, work-relevant courses that are provided through external training providers oracademic institutions. Engineers can also enroll in the MS at Stanford Program, a one yearprogram at Stanford University designed to increase an engineer's knowledge through a master'sprogram in a technical field. The cost of this program is fully covered by Google.© 2007 Great Place to Work ® Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 4