Google employees, internally called Googlers, enjoy a wide range of unbeatable benefits. Google employee benefits and perks continue to extend and grow. This is mostly because management at Google has recognized the value of a comprehensive employee benefits package.
Former and present workers have posted on the job site Glassdoor to talk about some of their favourite benefits. Reviewers scored Google employee benefits and perks 4.6 out of 5 stars overall.
Google employee benefits and perks stimulate employee well-being, enhance productivity, and foster a positive work environment.
Related: Starbucks Employee Benefits
1. Health and Wellness – 'Keeping Googlers healthy is our priority.'
Google believes in keeping its employees healthy. It has been praised for its comprehensive health and wellness benefits. Google employee benefits and perks provide dental, medical and vision insurance for employees and dependents. They also offer onsite health clinics and fitness facilities to promote employee well-being.
According to a study by the University of California, Berkeley, employees who used the company's onsite gyms were more likely to report being in good health than those who did not. The study also found that gym users were less likely to report being stressed or burned out. This Google employee benefit and perk provides Google with a healthy workforce that can deliver results.
The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2019 published a study titled, 'Mindfulness-Based Programs in the Workplace: a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.' The study found that participants in Google's mindfulness training for employees were less likely to report feeling pressured or anxious. The survey also discovered that those who practised mindfulness were more likely to say that their work was engaging.
Healthy workers are more productive and accomplish more (without compromising the quality of their work). Research has found that 9 in every 10 employers think that focusing on employee well-being increases performance and productivity.
Thus, Google employees' benefits and perks focus on keeping Googlers healthy through insurance coverage and wellness programs.
Related: 11 Employee Benefits Every Employee Should Have
2. Financial Well-being – 'Providing compensation and programs that give our employees financial peace of mind.'
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This is one of the broad Google employee benefits and perks. It includes the company's competitive compensation, regular bonus, and equity refresh opportunities. Financial well-being for Google employee benefits and perks also entails generous 401(k) and regional retirement plan, student loan reimbursement and 1-on-1 financial coaching.
This benefit has received huge positive critical acclaim. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of Google's financial wellness benefit. The available evidence suggests that it may be beneficial for employees. A current researcher in the Google Cloud Space praised Google employee benefits and perks' financial well-being. They have been able to focus on their financial well-being with the support of Google's student loan program.
Google receives praise for offering generous salaries and bonuses to its employees. The goal is to ensure that the hard work of all Googlers is recognized and rewarded. This creates a highly engaged and motivated staff that produces premium results.
Research has constantly shown that highly engaged and motivated employees can have a significant positive impact on organizations. For instance, studies on Employee Engagement by Gallup.
Gallup repeatedly finds that highly engaged employees are more productive, have lower absenteeism rates, and help to increase customer satisfaction. Additionally, they express greater general well-being and are more likely to remain with their companies over the long term. Google employee benefits and perks leverage these benefits, thus, the need to invest in generous financial-wellbeing programs.
Related: Trends in Employee Benefits
3. Flexibility and time off – 'The time you need to recharge, and the flexibility to get your best work done.'
Google employee benefits and perks offer a variety of flexibility and time off to Googlers. The backbone of this design is to grant employees the flexibility and freedom to work in a way that suits their needs. This includes, Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, jury duty, sick leave, parental leave, disability, and holidays.
Paid time off primarily consists of sick days, bereavement leave, and jury duty leave, typically running from 15 to 25 days annually. Employees may utilize this Google employee benefit and perk for any reason as long as they notify their manager in advance.
Employees can work from any location for up to four weeks each year during "work from anywhere weeks." Certain conditions must be met to qualify for this benefit, such as working for the company for at least a year.
Thanks to the hybrid work model, employee benefits and perks allow Googlers to spend two or three days remotely in the office and the rest of the time. With this model, workers will have the freedom to organize their time according to their unique demands.
Part-time work and job-sharing options are available for employees who want to reduce their hours or share their job with another person. These options are a great way to balance work and life or to take on a new challenge.
Through Google employee benefits and perks such as work flexibility, Google attracts and retains top talent. In 2020, Google's employee satisfaction score was 85%. The score is significantly higher than the average for tech companies. This high level of satisfaction is likely due in part to Google's flexible work options and generous time off policies.
4. Family Support and Care – 'How we support your loved ones'
Google employee benefits and perks also include family support and care. A major component of this benefit is parental leave.
Googlers are legally entitled to time off when they give birth to a child, adopt a child, or foster a child. Google ensures that both parents receive time off at home before returning to work.
Google employee benefits and perks offer mothers an 18-week parental leave and give husbands a 6-week break.
This benefit may be available to both parents and children in some workplaces. There are excellent daycare facilities onsite with individualized instructional programs for the kids. These are available at the company's Googleplex (Google Headquarters).
Fertility and growing family support is also a branch of this Google employee benefit and perk. This program delivers financial assistance and other support to employees trying to start a family. This includes coverage for IVF, egg freezing, and surrogacy.
Google employee benefits and perks such as these foster high employee loyalty. Generally, when employees notice efforts by the organization to assist and provide aid in their personal lives, they repay in undying loyalty. A study by the Society for Human Resource Management found that companies with high employee loyalty have a 31% lower turnover rate than companies with low employee loyalty.
Related: Tesla Discounts for Employees
What to learn from Google Employee Benefits and Perks
The discussion above showed that thoughtful incentive management and recognition can bring significant business benefits, including increased productivity, job satisfaction, and retention. When employees feel valued at work, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged, which can lead to better results for the company.
However, the effect begins right at recruitment! More than half of the 2,000 job searchers surveyed in the United States felt that a company's benefits and perks are a key consideration when deciding whether to accept a job offer. 86% of large to medium-sized firms provide incentives for financial Wellness. Google employees' benefits and perks can provide a basic framework to consider adopting as you build your brand. It also applies to maintaining and bettering an existing brand.
Other research has shown that flexible working hours, remote working options, and wellness programs are some of the most desired options while still being affordable for employers. Google employee benefits and perks have invested and placed heavy recognition on such benefits and seemingly benefitted from them. It is possible to impact employee satisfaction, retention, and recruitment by approaching the benefits package with thought and a value-add mindset.
Related: Samsung Discounts for Employees
Conclusion
Overall, Google employee benefits and perks are some of the best in the tech industry and among Fortune 500 companies. They offer many benefits covering the employee's mental and physical well-being. The company also offers several intangible perks that make it a great workplace.
Takeaways
Below is an outline of other minor perks that you need to know:
- Free food - All Google onsite cafes and canteens provide free meals and fruit.
- Free cooking classes – A sneaky but great idea where Google tries to allow separate departments to work together and interact with new people whom they don't usually work with.
- The 'Death Benefit' - If a Googler dies whilst employed at Google, their spouse will receive 50% of their salary in a cheque for the next ten years. [Read More].