CEO Sundar Pichai Reveals Why Google Employees Get Free Meals At Office - Here's What He Said

The tech giant Alphabet provides multiple perks for its employees, including free meals for all the workers. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet said that providing free meals to the employees fostered a creative and interactive environment where employees can discuss new ideas. He shared one of his instances when he told at the “The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations” about how the informal environments at cafes turned out to be a fertile space where his innovations and imagination grew. Many of his innovative ideas came about due to being able to brainstorm in spaces like these cafes. Pichai believes that if a company aims to improve its workplace dynamics, then providing employees with such incentives can work wonders as they help make the company's ecosystem employee-friendly. This is evident from the fact that about 90% of employees who are offered a job at the company immediately accept the offer. Rubenstein stated on the show that Google has over 1,82,000 employees. Perks for employees don’t just end at free meals, it also includes many other comprehensive health coverage and paid leaves. The company provides its employees with health coverage, including medical, vision, and dental charges. They also make sure that their employees have a healthy mind as well as body, so, they also offer on-site fitness centers and wellness programs. The employees also enjoy paid leave perks, including parental leave, vacation leaves, and holidays. The company also looks out for its employees' financial interests. It provides financial planning services and competitive salary packages with attractive retirement plans. Pichai also shared how the company is flexible with its employees' preferences for work mode. It allows flexible working hours with an option of working from home, provided that the employees maintain their productivity. However, becoming an employee at this company is a complex undertaking. Pichai stressed that the company looks for creative software engineers who know how to “apply themselves into new situations and do well.” The CEO said that the company wants software engineers who are proficient in their technical abilities and willing to learn and grow for personal and professional development.