Google should be an example to all when it come to interactive workplace design

Google is known to be a wonderland for tech professionals everywhere. It is a sought after and coveted workplace, which is designed to cater to the individual. Comparably has recently named Google as the “tech company with the best corporate culture”, but how does this culture work beyond the realms of the Google institute? The question that many employers are asking is, does the Google culture really work? And is it sustainable for a normal business? Company culture has become a focus for recruiters and hiring managers, but if we break this down what does it actually mean? Company culture is shaped by the employees for the employees and should work in collusion with the services a business is providing. Google’s company culture model is based around flexibility and the freedom to be creative in a fun environment.

Google works tirelessly to create a workspace and provide cool perks to keep their employees happy. With cool perks such as free meals, dog-friendly workspaces, an on-site gym and massage therapists, it’s no wonder that the firm receives approximately 5 applications a minute all year round.
What can businesses take from the Google model?

Although the list of perks for working at Google are seemingly endless, the jobs require a lot of hard work and focus. It’s easy for company culture and productivity to become unbalanced, as employees will become accustomed to an easy life. The business model can be adapted to suit most industries, but it’s important to find the right working balance between the two.

Each industry has a specially formulated work ecosystem which has been shaped to drive the best results. Age-old industries such as law firms, banks and insurance brokers embrace the corporate culture and often reject the notion of new ideas. Now picture this, lawyers bringing their dogs into the office or taking themselves off to sleep pods for an afternoon nap. This notion is almost too foreign to even comprehend.

These age old industries call for a more professional working environment, but does this mean that lawyers, bankers, office workers and real estate agents should miss out on the perks of a more enjoyable and relaxed work environment?

The Google spectrum:

Whichever way you look at the company culture at Google, the employees have propelled this business to unfathomable success. The key concept of Google’s culture strategy is keeping their employees happy, by finding out what they respond well to. The workplace can often feel like a burden and even the slightest restraint can leave employees feeling unmotivated and trapped.

Google have unearthed the formula to making employees want to come to work, to work harder and to stay at the business for many years. Every industry can learn from Google’s methods and can seek to implement changes in the workplace that benefit their employees. This can be referred to as the Google spectrum, as the level of corporate culture will depend on the industry sector and also the budget.

The concept of the Google company culture structure should be taken conceptually and moulded to suit the needs of your employees. Whether that’s something as simple as implementing flexible working hours, to creating a whole eco-system for your employees to adapt to. The limitations lie within your industry sector and your overall budget. Making small steps towards a better company culture can produce a more productive work environment. It’s important to implement this slowly and progressively, as not to upset the productivity balance.

As with any business, Google is working within its own means to produce a better work environment for their employees, this is a cyclical process. The happier the employees, the more productive they are, the more productive employees are, the more money the business makes, the more money the business makes, the more they can invest in their employee’s happiness. If you start out small, this can eventually transform a company culture into a new-aged progressive institution.

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Alice Porter works for the the employment solicitors Gorvins.