The current trend of creating the best possible working conditions for employees of companies — not only those in Silicon Valley — has a logical basis. With the high demand for engineers or designers, tech companies do not have a choice but to provide their workers with the best services. As such, having slot machines, slides, beer taps, and free food and transportation have become the standard. Maybe I am little bit cynical, but I think that more than simple altruism is at play. In most cases, it is also a convenient trade-off.
Office photos look immaculate in PR articles, greatly supporting all HR activities. Compared to the typical Californian beige carpeting and a white wall accompanied with fake brick tiles, start-up offices are significantly above the standard. Offering breakfast at work is a clever way to motivate employees to arrive at work 45 minutes early, at which time their minds are switched to working mode. They are transported there, of course, by a branded company bus, surprisingly equipped with a WiFi connection, just in case they want to start reading their work e-mails. Slot machines and free beer is great way to attract also employees’ friends, who after being recruited, will stay at the same company ~40% longer because of the inside social connections.
At Google and several other companies, I have noticed a special truck. One side of the truck sucks in a programmer and, in about fifteen minutes, he comes out from the other end freshly shaven, with a new haircut, and transformed back to a decent-looking human being. This is not unlike sending your car through a car wash. Unlimited vacation sounds like a great deal on the job description as well. However, you will feel guilty and emotionally blackmailed when you take even a single day off.
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his lunch alone
(popsugar.com)
As for lunch, they will bring your food straight to the work table — remember those days when people ate together and communicated?
Sometimes the care of employees is pretty extreme and absurd. One of the many examples I have seen comes from my friend. After taking a job at Facebook, he was not allowed to start working. This was because he had to wait for the ergonomic team to properly set up his chair and desk. I have also heard several stories of brutal hangovers to reality after quitting your job at companies like those. Suddenly you realize they you had to buy your own phone and laptop, go grocery shopping for yourself, get the oil changed in your car…