Google wants well-rounded staff

By MARGARITA BAUZA • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • October 19, 2008

It's no surprise that employees at the Internet search giant Google -- whose wacky cubicles are known for their Mr. Potato Head, superhero and Elmo doll adornments -- was ranked as southeast Michigan's top workplace in the medium-sized company category (151-500 workers).
"Our culture is something that we take a lot of pride in," said Jake Parrillo, spokesman for Google, which has offices in Ann Arbor and Birmingham. "Everything that we do, we do to make a better work environment for employees."

Employees enjoy a vast menu of in-house perks that include massages, free gourmet lunches and gyms. Dogs can come in for visits. The Ann Arbor facility is the headquarters for Google's AdWords operations.

Davang Shah, 32, head of marketing for automotive, said truth and openness came to life for him when he came to Google. He and his boss share an office, which encourages free-flowing discussion.

"Out of that come the best ideas," he said. "It's not very hierarchical. It's an organization that values ideas and not where they came from."

Shah has been at Google for 13 months after three years at Ford Motor Co. He receives the training he needs to do his job, and his bosses encourage him to take time off, placing a premium on employees continuing to be well-rounded individuals.

Volunteering is one of the favorite aspects of his job -- whether it's painting a school, working at a soup kitchen, or raising money for breast cancer research.
He also appreciates the diversity in employees when it comes to skills, ethnicity and religious backgrounds.

"When I look at the organization as a whole, experiences go far beyond auto-related experiences, start-ups, tech, advertising," he said. "I believe strongly that that leads to better, well-rounded ideas."

But the most rewarding part of his job is that he enjoys what he does.

"I look forward to coming to work, I'm tested in a way that I haven't been tested before and that I have the resources and work in collaborative environment to do what's best for the client."
Grady Burnett, director of online sales and operations, says Google's success lies in that collaborative environment.

"Everyone is empowered to solve big problems, we encourage them to take on challenges, that it's something they should own."

Community involvement seems to make a big difference in employees' lives, he added.

"We've seen a lot of great success and commitment in this area," he said. "The majority of people I work with are very civic-minded people. I think it gives a feeling of purpose and belonging to the broader community and it's fun to do these projects."

All I can say is wow! Those lucky bastards! I wish I was one of them. -Jay Castillo-

From : http://www.freep.com/article/20081019/BUSINESS06/810190398/1019/BUSINESS