Posted by Adminon 5:53 AMin
pictures|
164
comments
Seeing such offices makes you wish you were working for Google. They have everything a person needs in there and even more. They have massage chairs, slides, pool tables and other games, private cabins and much more. These photos are from Google office in Zurich.
Posted by Admin
on 5:53 AM.
Filed under
pictures
.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0,or you can simply subscribe and you’ll get notification every time something is published on Popgive via our RSS feed.
You have the most relevant point here. The ONLY reason Google tries to treat its employees so well is that it overworks them and counteracts that with trying to make them feel good and relaxed about being part of the Google family.
It's all very cool, but capitalism wins, not creativity.
Google employees the brightest people from all over the world, and then on top of that they have stressful deadlines. The projects Google gives to their employees involve creativity. Don't let their work place fool you, the employees are probably working 60+ hour weeks.
Whatever happened to just acting like adults, giving everyone a private office with a door and 4 walls, perhaps a window if it can work out, working 7 hours, and going home to have fun with the wife and children instead of living at work?
I say 7, because I don't see the productivity gains with 8 hour days anymore.
I'm just glad I work from home now. I don't have to stress out over interviews, try to work for a promotion, put up with office gossip and jealousy, or whatever. I am my own destiny, every day.
P.S. Whoever left the homosexuals comment here -- that was extremely funny.
Every single piece of furniture in there looks uncomfortable as hell.
But maybe that was the strategy. The Googlers think, "Wow! Look at all this cool furniture to relax in. Google must actually love me as much as they say they do." Then they sit in it for 2 and 1/2 minutes and go, "Hmmm. This hurts my butt. I might as well go back to my desk and work."
It looks excessive and stupid. A simple clean workspace is better. No matter who I work for, I would want get my work done quickly and effectively, then get the hell out of the office to and home to the people I love.
All those negative comments are because you'll probably don't have such a cool workplace. If you want to work 7 hours and go home, then do it! If you can't, don't blame it on the comforts at at the workplace.
i think its fine, as long as the company does not end up like ion storm, where they spent all their money on getting a kickass workplace and not on projects themselves! and then again, it looks fun at first glance, but would grow stale after say... 6mths?
Why do google employees get to have such a lavish office space? I hope I never have to pay anything to google to support this luxurious office life style.
Great work place. Wish more employers would look after their workers like that. They must feel valued. Imagine what those architects could do with a nursing home, rehabilitation unit, children's hospital or school. Val
look at all that wasted floor space that could be taken up with productive facilities. with all that decadence and luxury it's amazing that the workers get anything done at all. i predict google will fail miserably within the next 5 years if it continues to treat its workers like that. absolutely wasteful and even dangerous (inflatable furniture, big metal slide etc).
To those of you concerned about the "waste of space," fear not. There's a reason you don't see any pictures of the workspaces, which can't rightly be called "cubes," if Zurich follows the pattern established by other offices (which I suspect it does). All that common space isn't coming from thin air.
Iperoha oli to onirevomaste afti to ftiaxane. An perasoume tis fotografies pou se protrepoun, se 1. mavro tounel 2.erotismo 3.avganismo kai an kratisoume ton palipedismo se prosopiko epipedo ke ohi dimosia einai i telia zoi ftani mono ke pou tin ida se fotografies...
Хорошо народу ... Больше всего понравился бильярд.... У нас пока тока боулинг и кинотеатр есть ... :'(
Google, возмите меня к себе работать, мне много не надо ... 10 литров CocaCola в день. 2 кг клубничного мороженого. место для стоянки моей Alfa Romeo 166 и инета кусочек... =)
There was a segment on Dateline a year or two ago on this. The idea is making employees happy to come to work every day. Unlike some people who don't enjoy their jobs, Google’s employees have great attendance and almost no one quits. Google gets a maximum efficacy out of their employees and that saves them money in the long run. Especially since as others have said; it is a very demanding and stressful job, and requires a lot of office hours.
It’s a beautiful working space; I am sure a laid-back working space like this is relaxing and this encourages creativity and all is good for the company productivity and its employs happiness.
I'm not sure about the work week for Google or what their office space looks like, but from what I know of work, you really have to stand by the company to work there. I work at a nice company that gives free massages, programs, has a work-out room, and almost free, delicious food, but they've made some bad choices lately and I'm thinking of leaving them. (They also don't pay incredibly well.) Google also winds up looking great and I wonder how often these employees take advantage of these perks.
I think the office is a very cool idea. I work in a kitchen and i work long hours every day of every week and it would be very nice to be able to go have some fun on my break. It would make me so much more wanting to actually do my job. Besides the people who don't like it are just cranky because their cubicle doesn't have any of those things!
I worked at Microsoft and T-Mobile Headquarters and before I worked at those places I heard all these stories about how they had all these really cool things. Know what they really had?
T-Mobile has cool events for their employees all the time. Free stuff, food, sports celebs visiting, raffles and just fun things. The admins are given thousands of dollars in credit to buy things for employees but with such a strict guideline that they really didn't buy anything. There was a couple of video games on one of the floors but I never saw anyone use them.
Microsoft has.... well, nothing inside really. Free sodas, shuttles between all the buildings, football field, baseball diamond, basketball court and tons of places to walk, but I didn't see any "nap" rooms or anything like that. No free food, but we did have a theater style popcorn maker that was free.
I haven't been to the google HQ yet but I'll let you know what I find :)
Great place to work for someone just out of school with the smarts that Google is looking for - I suppose as you get older you start using some of the stuff less.
But hey, if you're fresh out of college with no attachments and no pressing needs this would be awesome.
Studies have shown that a 20 minute nap can revitalize a worker. And I expect that some of the people sitting around in the 'play' areas are talking about work. Can't tell you how much more creative people can be in meetings that are not held in sterile conference rooms.
Maybe Google is just looking for ways to pump up the creativity and imaginations of their workers.
its a normal office with cool architecture, it has a gym, a lunch room (with a slide to it ahah), recreation room for lunch breaks, etc. There is just one shot of a guy where he spends 90% of his day and that looks alot like what i do...
This is Bhupendra Tiwari from SNL. The good thing about the whole furniture is that is really very very expensive but does not seems to be confortable at any cost. The second point that i would love to share here is that no doubt it would be lovely to work in such a climate but it would be more of rest and refreshment and less ot work that could be done. Good things doesnt come by comfort but come by extreme Dedication and continuous work effort.
Our university had a google workshop and a few of my friends got to visit the google office in california,she being from romania understands communism very well and she also mentioned that she did see a few ppl working there wearing the blue communists cap. if giving all these facility so that u stay at work more to produce more output isnt communism than wht is it?
Babyfut, pool tables, slides..? The designers have obviously never seen the british satire 'Nathan Barley' which parodies exactly this type of wankiness.
I was offered a job at this office but refused it because they pay less than everywhere else... 30k less a year!! It's a nice office for sure but it's all a trap so you spend more time at the office. Instead of going to lunch and using 1-2 hours, you don't leave the building and in max 25 mins you're back at work, same deal with the gym, hairdresser and massuese... you have to pray to god google... everyone wears google shirts etc.. it's like a big family... i prefer to keep work and play seperate... great though if you're new to the city and don't know anything or anyone otherwise more of a pain I would say.... dinner is even free, why not stay another hour or two... you can even sleep there if you want and keep working when you wake up,, then have breakfast again for free at the office...
I used to work at Google. yes the furniture is nice and the chefs are great with the food they cook, but the pay is crap for newbies and you have to work long hours. They paint a picture on how its "the place to be" and visitors get sucked into that by coming to Google and eat free food and walk around the campus. On the other hand they they cram between 4 -6 uses in a small office or 4 people in a cubicle. They emphasize on the Google culture with events but just like any corporate office, there is a lot of ass kissing and "drop what you are doing and take cake of me". a large percentage of users there re just contractors or vendors and don't have full privileges like the Google employees do. " a white badge is not the same as a green or red badge" hence the term "you must be a tic. "tic" = Temp , intern and contractors. i left for a better position with more to learn and better pay. Google is a proprietary shop. they make their own apps with their own version of Linux called Goobuntu and modified windows. they are self- sufficient cult.
There are plenty of cross-dressers who work at the Google campus in Mountain View, California. its a scary site to see some hairy dude with a beard wearing a black sleeveless dress with a deep voice. i still cant get over the fact the guy had a hairy chest under his low cut dress and bra!
it dont look like you have very many black people there..i think you should hire me to correct that..lol..nice place to work/play msbumblebee_1@yahoo.com
"No blacks in Switzerland"? Wow how insightful of you. Because the Swiss have a law that probits black people from flying in Swiss air space and they have a high tech 'black people' detection system that identifies an potential offenders and obliterates them in mid-air. Wow bud!
Anyhow...love the concept and I think that everyone deserves to be overworked and underpaid in friendly, laid back environment like that. Kudo's to Google.
These are pictures of the office in Zurich, Switzerland. Google definitely has a diverse employee population, but it is reflective of the country that the office resides in.
Personally, I think that the majority of the people making snide, almost funny, comments about the nature of the office and the company have never worked in a truly rewarding environmet that wasn't their home or their own business.
Yes, I am a Google Employee. Yes, we work long hours, but not constantly. Yes, we have deadlines that must be met. What company doesn't? No, not every google office looks this way. Yes, they encourage us to take time off when needed.
"Whatever happened to just acting like adults?"
Can anyone say "stick in the mud?" Who says adults aren't allowed to have fun, first of all? Second, why would you wish to isolate yourself from the rest of your team mates with 4 walls and a door? There are plenty of spaces at Google if you need some alone time to work on something crucial. Or, you can just go home and do the work there.
Working at Google Zurich is fun and we have another life outside of Google too.
Payment is comparable with the Swiss salaries, usually the salary in Zurich is up to 30% higher then in the rest of Switzerland. Benefits are brilliant.
Here's from someone who could have worked at Google, but decided against going through with all the interviews (based on things I heard):
Their office looks great, and to be sure I would enjoy working there - at least until the novelty wears off (which can take a few months at least). But there are other things in life as well. First, call me old-fashion, boring or whatever, but I really enjoy having a good-sized, private university office. Even if that means that I don't have a hanging chair, pool table or whatever. Second, I'm a bit suspicious of this Goog-... culture.
I think its great! During my training when I first joined my company, i was told that "if you cant come to work and have atleast a bit of fun, then you shouldnt be coming to work at all". But I find it quite hard to have fun with a desk, a chair and a monitor...oh and a telephone! Google have got it spot on here, looks like a great place to work - its bright, interactive, modern, and probably makes the staff feela bit more appreciated than if they where given something like oh I dont know...free shares, dress down day, pub lunch.....snore!!
I wish my next work to have similar office than google office. If the dream of this company was a group of hard working employers with innovative ideas and positive thought then their offices were achieved it.
Who should not work hard or their bosses push him/her to work more??
According my opinion the our coworkers and our offices make our work more efficient and happy.
Well done google!!! I hope more companies to take you as paradigm!
hahahaahhahaha the crap that i see on this blog! hahahaha to even leave a post is bad enough but to sit here and say "capitalism is the winner here" ahhahahahahahahhahahahahaha get a life you donkey ahahahhha
"Why do google employees get to have such a lavish office space?"
It's about keeping employees happy. At my office we are treated like cattle, so everyone does as little as possible to keep from getting fired. Not to mention we have the cleaning lady dry our bosses coffee mugs with the same rag she used to wipe down toilet seats with.
Sorry to interrupt the argument, I just remembered a movie quote that I think is appropriate:
Bob Slydell: You see, what we're actually trying to do here is, we're trying to get a feel for how people spend their day at work... so, if you would, would you walk us through a typical day, for you? Peter Gibbons: Yeah. Bob Slydell: Great. Peter Gibbons: Well, I generally come in at least fifteen minutes late, ah, I use the side door - that way Lumbergh can't see me, heh heh - and, uh, after that I just sorta space out for about an hour. Bob Porter: Da-uh? Space out? Peter Gibbons: Yeah, I just stare at my desk; but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch, too. I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work.
Yep, it's from Office Space. I'd say it might not be heaven on Earth to work at Google, but compared to other places, I see the benefits. I bet the employees seldom go nuts and kick the fax machine to bits and pieces. :)
It's horrible. Looks like it was designed by idiots for idiots. Almost as naff as the words "creative" and "space". I wonder how long this crap is going to last in the current economic climate.
every organisation has its aim, the outlook of this organisation is great... if it is providing all the pleasures to their employees then such kind of hard work would be required, but if the employees will get such a good environment, then i think every employee would love to give their best... really great place to work...
Since 10 years I work on creating the optimal working conditions for intelectuals (software programmers, web designers, clerks, accountants, telesales staff etc.). For me this office in Zurich is more Internal and External Marketing than real care about employees - in most situation they work in unhelathy conditions bended on the sofas or chairs with laptops on the low tables or own knees. Even when they work with the workstations (desk + operational chairs) it's obvious that no-one has teached them how to adjust and use the seats in healthy way. The same on the photos from this office.
I wonder about performance ratio/productivity of Google staff - if they have so much attractions which divert their attention from work, how much extra time they should spend to reach their targets/to make his duties?
only I'll type those Comments again,,coz that's wat i believe too,,,
nizki // April 9, 2009 3:30 AM
"Since 10 years I work on creating the optimal working conditions for intelectuals (software programmers, web designers, clerks, accountants, telesales staff etc.). For me this office in Zurich is more Internal and External Marketing than real care about employees - in most situation they work in unhealthy conditions bended on the sofas or chairs with laptops on the low tables or own knees. Even when they work with the workstations (desk + operational chairs) it's obvious that no-one has teached them how to adjust and use the seats in healthy way. The same on the photos from this office."
"I wonder about performance ratio/productivity of Google staff - if they have so much attractions which divert their attention from work, how much extra time they should spend to reach their targets/to make his duties?"
People who talk bad about the workplace are just subconsciously jealous of not having the same opportunity. I know many ppl woking in google and they are extremely happy with their job, office and schedule (which is made by the worker)
I think the office is a very cool idea. I work in a kitchen and i work long hours every day of every week and it would be very nice to be able to go have some fun on my break.
These are Montessori children (founders) grown up! Good for them. I can only hope my little Montessori child does the same! They are happy and it shows. There is proof it works - just look at the bottom line and "happy factor" goes a longer way than you think.
Maybe this IS a waste of money, but judging on how efficient the Google site is, the colorful workspace must really work. And if the Googleites don't like the hours or workspace, they can always quit. I am SO jealous of this office. This makes me want to get a job there...
The Beginning The working life is already tough enough, but the worries of being out of work was even tougher. The unsecured working environment have prompted me to search the internet for an alternative source of extra income so that I could learn how to Make Money Work for me and be Financially Independent. I listed down a number of Free Internet Business Opportunity Ideas while researching ways how people earn money online while working-from-home.......
For people who are saying negative things like "this is how to keep employees working ridiculously long hours", the 6 figure income they get would be sufficient to do this by itself. Creating this sort of workplace both shows employees you care and increases productivity.
So wow. Why would anyone anywhere be angry about people working in a place like this? Ok, so it may not look ergonomic, and it may not be a utilitarian 1984 style work place. But I can tell you from experience. IT IS WAY BETTER THAN 90% OF ALL OFFICES ANYWHERE! I love going home to my family but I also love the oh so important "me time" that a workplace like this would also provide. And by the way this is totally heading towards a "Shadowrun" style arcology that the workers live, eat, sh!t, and die in...
oh my god.. this is like going to disneyland! extremely ingenious.. how many people go to work in the morning and are actually happy to? congrats, sincerely this is a dream!
to all the people who are giving negative comments, i just have to say.. jealous much? you'd rather work in a cubicle i guess, right? or in a classic office, because when u were young you were imagining yourself in a suit and briefcase, inside a pretensious, modern-wannabe, cheap environment. you probably didn't even get to have that, which results in your hateful pessimistic attitude. i pitty you..
This is really amazing! This is why i chose Google for my thesis proposal. Could someone help me? i calling for any Googler to help me regarding my thesis. I'm an 5th year architectural student and I need some 1st hand source. please mail me. thanks
Not that cool... more tacky than anything. I'm sure it is impressive for someone who works at a businesspark in rural America but if you visit other powerhouses like like AON or Hewitt they have all the creature comforts with tasteful and expensive designs.
I had a phone interview and was invited for interviews, but I declined in the end. The main reason was that they just didn't listen. First of all they wanted to interview me for a job I did not want (which was corrected). Secondly, they ignored my preferences for a date for the interview. Then they booked a plane at a different time then I really wanted.
Things like this make me think a lot about what the attention to people really is at google. Also, despite that the working environment might be really cool and the work might be interesting, I think my career would be in danger working on all this proprietary stuff.
Apart from this, almost everyone focusses on all the interesting perks in the office, but I saw a video in which they mentioned that in effect only 6% of the office space is used for that.
That's funny I also had an invitation and similar doubts but decided to go anyway. In my opinion, it can't hurt just to visit them and see what it's all about. Interview will be in a few weeks time.
Well, whether you like google or not. they've understood one cruicial thing concerning success: keep your staff and employees motivated in every possible way you can. So the logical concequence: people do not only work for google, they live google.
March 13, 2008 at 8:18 AM
i love how in the guitar hero pic up there they're rockin out ... to the x360 dashboard...
March 13, 2008 at 8:37 AM
so this is what happens when you let rampant homosexuals design the entire office
March 13, 2008 at 8:42 AM
So artistic and cool! I linked to this on my blog, I hope you don't mind!
March 13, 2008 at 8:50 AM
I can only say I am very jealous and want to work there!!!
March 13, 2008 at 9:18 AM
work? what work?
March 13, 2008 at 9:22 AM
That looks great, but makes you wondering why there are so many ways to relax. Do these people EVER get to leave for home?
March 13, 2008 at 10:08 AM
a esa me la cojo
March 13, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Sarah J:
You have the most relevant point here. The ONLY reason Google tries to treat its employees so well is that it overworks them and counteracts that with trying to make them feel good and relaxed about being part of the Google family.
It's all very cool, but capitalism wins, not creativity.
March 13, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Google employees the brightest people from all over the world, and then on top of that they have stressful deadlines. The projects Google gives to their employees involve creativity. Don't let their work place fool you, the employees are probably working 60+ hour weeks.
March 13, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Whatever happened to just acting like adults, giving everyone a private office with a door and 4 walls, perhaps a window if it can work out, working 7 hours, and going home to have fun with the wife and children instead of living at work?
I say 7, because I don't see the productivity gains with 8 hour days anymore.
I'm just glad I work from home now. I don't have to stress out over interviews, try to work for a promotion, put up with office gossip and jealousy, or whatever. I am my own destiny, every day.
P.S. Whoever left the homosexuals comment here -- that was extremely funny.
March 13, 2008 at 10:54 AM
corporate propaganda
March 13, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Every single piece of furniture in there looks uncomfortable as hell.
But maybe that was the strategy. The Googlers think, "Wow! Look at all this cool furniture to relax in. Google must actually love me as much as they say they do." Then they sit in it for 2 and 1/2 minutes and go, "Hmmm. This hurts my butt. I might as well go back to my desk and work."
March 13, 2008 at 10:58 AM
get back to work nerd! I need that spreadsheet completed by COB! Hup to it.
March 13, 2008 at 11:23 AM
First!!!1111oneone lol
March 13, 2008 at 1:00 PM
sooo... do they actually work or just getting paid to play around
March 13, 2008 at 1:19 PM
It looks excessive and stupid. A simple clean workspace is better. No matter who I work for, I would want get my work done quickly and effectively, then get the hell out of the office to and home to the people I love.
March 13, 2008 at 2:47 PM
I work on the creative side at a non-profit. We have a Rosie the Riveter poster to show we're "creatives."
I dig it - especially the work out facilities and bathtub you can chill in.
Good stuff. Damn you state school! ha.
March 13, 2008 at 2:47 PM
I work on the creative side at a non-profit. We have a Rosie the Riveter poster to show we're "creatives."
I dig it - especially the work out facilities and bathtub you can chill in.
Good stuff. Damn you state school! ha.
March 13, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Do you think the homeless are welcome?
Extravagant and good for them. It's almost become too cliche though.
I'm waiting for them to buy Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch and move their HQ there. LOL.
Here, amuse yourselves with this:
Top 10 Awesome Websites That Sell Cool Products You Probably Have Never Visited But Need To.
http://blog.fire-pixel.com/
March 13, 2008 at 3:50 PM
All those negative comments are because you'll probably don't have such a cool workplace. If you want to work 7 hours and go home, then do it! If you can't, don't blame it on the comforts at at the workplace.
March 13, 2008 at 4:17 PM
this is what happens when you have way too much money to spend.....
March 13, 2008 at 4:28 PM
i think its fine, as long as the company does not end up like ion storm, where they spent all their money on getting a kickass workplace and not on projects themselves! and then again, it looks fun at first glance, but would grow stale after say... 6mths?
March 13, 2008 at 5:31 PM
wow! i'd even live there.
March 13, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Why do google employees get to have such a lavish office space?
I hope I never have to pay anything to google to support this luxurious office life style.
March 13, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Yea because google already charges you... well absolutely nothing. I'm sure you have to worry about paying them too much.
March 13, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Great work place. Wish more employers would look after their workers like that. They must feel valued. Imagine what those architects could do with a nursing home, rehabilitation unit, children's hospital or school.
Val
March 13, 2008 at 8:53 PM
I have a friend who works in Google america. I can assure you that she doesn't live at her office constantly.
March 13, 2008 at 9:16 PM
look at all that wasted floor space that could be taken up with productive facilities. with all that decadence and luxury it's amazing that the workers get anything done at all. i predict google will fail miserably within the next 5 years if it continues to treat its workers like that. absolutely wasteful and even dangerous (inflatable furniture, big metal slide etc).
March 13, 2008 at 9:55 PM
I'd rather work in a gray cube farm like the guy over at MyLifeInaCube.com
March 13, 2008 at 11:01 PM
To those of you concerned about the "waste of space," fear not. There's a reason you don't see any pictures of the workspaces, which can't rightly be called "cubes," if Zurich follows the pattern established by other offices (which I suspect it does). All that common space isn't coming from thin air.
March 13, 2008 at 11:47 PM
eh. excuse me if I don't stroke myself silly over google's office furniture.
March 14, 2008 at 12:21 AM
i agreed with ross,my jealousy explose too and love to work there,these pictures change my mind about the future
March 14, 2008 at 1:53 AM
Looks like a resort to practice your diaper fetish.
March 14, 2008 at 4:21 AM
Grapes are sour
March 14, 2008 at 4:32 AM
Nice :)
DDLarea
http://www.ddlarea.com
March 14, 2008 at 5:50 AM
Iperoha oli to onirevomaste afti to ftiaxane.
An perasoume tis fotografies pou se protrepoun, se 1. mavro tounel
2.erotismo 3.avganismo
kai an kratisoume ton palipedismo se prosopiko epipedo ke ohi dimosia
einai i telia zoi
ftani mono ke pou tin ida se fotografies...
March 14, 2008 at 7:18 AM
АкуетТТТЬЬЬ!!!... вот сцуки.. типа офис сделали... ппс...
March 14, 2008 at 7:47 AM
Хорошо народу ...
Больше всего понравился бильярд....
У нас пока тока боулинг и кинотеатр есть ...
:'(
Google, возмите меня к себе работать, мне много не надо ...
10 литров CocaCola в день.
2 кг клубничного мороженого.
место для стоянки моей Alfa Romeo 166
и инета кусочек...
=)
March 14, 2008 at 7:57 AM
This is a quide of "how to keep employees in office for hours working for you"!!!
March 14, 2008 at 8:19 AM
envy, envy, and envy
March 14, 2008 at 9:18 AM
*cough*slackers*cough*
March 14, 2008 at 2:03 PM
What happened to trying to find a job you love for the job rather than trying to get through your work week with as little effort as possible?
March 14, 2008 at 2:39 PM
The photos are wonderful. I especially love those 2 photos the employees are lying comfortably watching aquarium there.
March 14, 2008 at 6:12 PM
There was a segment on Dateline a year or two ago on this. The idea is making employees happy to come to work every day.
Unlike some people who don't enjoy their jobs, Google’s employees have great attendance and almost no one quits.
Google gets a maximum efficacy out of their employees and that saves them money in the long run. Especially since as others have said; it is a very demanding and stressful job, and requires a lot of office hours.
March 14, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Would that those who experience poverty could enjoy this at least once a week!
March 15, 2008 at 6:25 AM
Anonymous is an idiot. Especially this one:
Anonymous said...
look at all that wasted floor space that could be taken up with productive facilities.
You think that's the entire office? 'Tard.
March 15, 2008 at 8:03 AM
http://www.9kia.org
March 15, 2008 at 8:04 AM
It’s a beautiful working space; I am sure a laid-back working space like this is relaxing and this encourages creativity and all is good for the company productivity and its employs happiness.
March 15, 2008 at 9:47 AM
I like cheese.
March 15, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Source: http://www.elmundo.es/albumes/2008/03/07/google_zurich/index.html
March 15, 2008 at 11:18 PM
I'm not sure about the work week for Google or what their office space looks like, but from what I know of work, you really have to stand by the company to work there. I work at a nice company that gives free massages, programs, has a work-out room, and almost free, delicious food, but they've made some bad choices lately and I'm thinking of leaving them. (They also don't pay incredibly well.)
Google also winds up looking great and I wonder how often these employees take advantage of these perks.
March 16, 2008 at 9:05 AM
I think the office is a very cool idea. I work in a kitchen and i work long hours every day of every week and it would be very nice to be able to go have some fun on my break. It would make me so much more wanting to actually do my job. Besides the people who don't like it are just cranky because their cubicle doesn't have any of those things!
March 16, 2008 at 4:42 PM
I worked at Microsoft and T-Mobile Headquarters and before I worked at those places I heard all these stories about how they had all these really cool things. Know what they really had?
T-Mobile has cool events for their employees all the time. Free stuff, food, sports celebs visiting, raffles and just fun things. The admins are given thousands of dollars in credit to buy things for employees but with such a strict guideline that they really didn't buy anything. There was a couple of video games on one of the floors but I never saw anyone use them.
Microsoft has.... well, nothing inside really. Free sodas, shuttles between all the buildings, football field, baseball diamond, basketball court and tons of places to walk, but I didn't see any "nap" rooms or anything like that. No free food, but we did have a theater style popcorn maker that was free.
I haven't been to the google HQ yet but I'll let you know what I find :)
March 16, 2008 at 7:08 PM
I prefer relax at home. When I´m working, I just wanna work
March 16, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Great place to work for someone just out of school with the smarts that Google is looking for - I suppose as you get older you start using some of the stuff less.
But hey, if you're fresh out of college with no attachments and no pressing needs this would be awesome.
March 17, 2008 at 2:43 AM
Como tienen dinero hay que llamarlos excentricos... ¿no se parece a una guarderia? asi va google que indexa mas lento que yahoo...
March 17, 2008 at 3:27 AM
way amina koyemmm yaww
March 17, 2008 at 6:18 AM
Не разглядел на фотках... Пиво-то там наливают и какое? :)
March 17, 2008 at 11:23 AM
My boyfriend actually turned down Google in Mountainveiw, CA.. because he knew with amenities like this he'd never want to come home to me again! ;)
March 17, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Seolyk said...
I have a friend who works in Google america. I can assure you that she doesn't live at her office constantly.
Er, well maybe she doesn't know she's about to be fired as well.
March 17, 2008 at 2:02 PM
WOWWW! THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!!!! when do you ever work??!?!?! and umm how many hours for break do you have a day?
March 17, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Studies have shown that a 20 minute nap can revitalize a worker. And I expect that some of the people sitting around in the 'play' areas are talking about work. Can't tell you how much more creative people can be in meetings that are not held in sterile conference rooms.
Maybe Google is just looking for ways to pump up the creativity and imaginations of their workers.
March 18, 2008 at 1:47 AM
Were can i apply?
;)
March 18, 2008 at 7:49 AM
wonderful, since I work in grey/black/white bank's world
March 18, 2008 at 8:09 AM
Hoss hoss pakamisa, dala will ook so n office he dan kan mens lekker chicks naai in die massage stoele..
March 19, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Ive never wanted to work somewhere so badly!! i really wish i hadnt seen this, now i will expect all jobs to look this amazing!! how do i apply???
March 19, 2008 at 11:01 PM
'How ur office premise is' doesn't matter but what matters is 'how u make it!'
March 21, 2008 at 1:08 AM
Golden cage
March 23, 2008 at 2:24 PM
PICS OR IT DID NOT HAPPEN
March 24, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Where do i sign up? That place looks amazing. I wonder if much work gets done.
March 26, 2008 at 12:01 AM
I ENVY U,
I WISH I COULD WORK THERE...
March 27, 2008 at 5:56 AM
It's Great Office in wide world....Do you have Yahoo Office or Microsoft Office, Friend?
March 28, 2008 at 9:01 AM
man u ppl are stupid...
its a normal office with cool architecture, it has a gym, a lunch room (with a slide to it ahah), recreation room for lunch breaks, etc. There is just one shot of a guy where he spends 90% of his day and that looks alot like what i do...
er
March 28, 2008 at 11:45 PM
This is Bhupendra Tiwari from SNL.
The good thing about the whole furniture is that is really very very expensive but does not seems to be confortable at any cost. The second point that i would love to share here is that no doubt it would be lovely to work in such a climate but it would be more of rest and refreshment and less ot work that could be done. Good things doesnt come by comfort but come by extreme Dedication and continuous work effort.
March 29, 2008 at 6:21 PM
pieces for finding PEACE for the top brass at Google!!!!
April 1, 2008 at 9:17 AM
Looks like a daycare to me...
the infantilization of the modern human is complete.
April 2, 2008 at 8:15 AM
Our university had a google workshop and a few of my friends got to visit the google office in california,she being from romania understands communism very well and she also mentioned that she did see a few ppl working there wearing the blue communists cap. if giving all these facility so that u stay at work more to produce more output isnt communism than wht is it?
April 3, 2008 at 3:32 AM
i wanna work there!!!!
April 3, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Lavish? Fucking slavish more like. Grow the fuck up.
April 4, 2008 at 3:14 AM
Babyfut, pool tables, slides..? The designers have obviously never seen the british satire 'Nathan Barley' which parodies exactly this type of wankiness.
April 6, 2008 at 3:39 PM
böyle yerde çalışYIM mezarda emekli oluyum ak çok afedersiniz
April 8, 2008 at 2:04 PM
I was offered a job at this office but refused it because they pay less than everywhere else... 30k less a year!! It's a nice office for sure but it's all a trap so you spend more time at the office. Instead of going to lunch and using 1-2 hours, you don't leave the building and in max 25 mins you're back at work, same deal with the gym, hairdresser and massuese... you have to pray to god google... everyone wears google shirts etc.. it's like a big family... i prefer to keep work and play seperate... great though if you're new to the city and don't know anything or anyone otherwise more of a pain I would say.... dinner is even free, why not stay another hour or two... you can even sleep there if you want and keep working when you wake up,, then have breakfast again for free at the office...
April 8, 2008 at 2:05 PM
...you don't ever need to go home!!!
April 9, 2008 at 6:41 AM
Great Comcept, but I love to leave my desk and go home...
I agree great for someone who has just finished college,
Still very impressive.
April 9, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I used to work at Google. yes the furniture is nice and the chefs are great with the food they cook, but the pay is crap for newbies and you have to work long hours. They paint a picture on how its "the place to be" and visitors get sucked into that by coming to Google and eat free food and walk around the campus. On the other hand they they cram between 4 -6 uses in a small office or 4 people in a cubicle. They emphasize on the Google culture with events but just like any corporate office, there is a lot of ass kissing and "drop what you are doing and take cake of me". a large percentage of users there re just contractors or vendors and don't have full privileges like the Google employees do. " a white badge is not the same as a green or red badge" hence the term "you must be a tic. "tic" = Temp , intern and contractors. i left for a better position with more to learn and better pay. Google is a proprietary shop. they make their own apps with their own version of Linux called Goobuntu and modified windows. they are self- sufficient cult.
April 9, 2008 at 11:05 AM
There are plenty of cross-dressers who work at the Google campus in Mountain View, California. its a scary site to see some hairy dude with a beard wearing a black sleeveless dress with a deep voice. i still cant get over the fact the guy had a hairy chest under his low cut dress and bra!
April 9, 2008 at 1:06 PM
it dont look like you have very many black people there..i think you should hire me to correct that..lol..nice place to work/play
msbumblebee_1@yahoo.com
April 10, 2008 at 6:12 PM
there cant be to many blacks its not usa its Switzerland were there are no blacks
April 11, 2008 at 7:24 AM
"No blacks in Switzerland"? Wow how insightful of you. Because the Swiss have a law that probits black people from flying in Swiss air space and they have a high tech 'black people' detection system that identifies an potential offenders and obliterates them in mid-air. Wow bud!
Anyhow...love the concept and I think that everyone deserves to be overworked and underpaid in friendly, laid back environment like that. Kudo's to Google.
April 11, 2008 at 7:35 AM
Oh no! Help help help help help
April 11, 2008 at 7:43 AM
Massage chairs??? do they have personal massage therapist too?... I would work 24/7 in the massage chamber and be very productive
April 11, 2008 at 7:58 AM
Did someone say the "no black people in the office" thing is part of Google's benefit package?
April 17, 2008 at 12:57 AM
These are pictures of the office in Zurich, Switzerland. Google definitely has a diverse employee population, but it is reflective of the country that the office resides in.
Personally, I think that the majority of the people making snide, almost funny, comments about the nature of the office and the company have never worked in a truly rewarding environmet that wasn't their home or their own business.
Yes, I am a Google Employee. Yes, we work long hours, but not constantly. Yes, we have deadlines that must be met. What company doesn't? No, not every google office looks this way. Yes, they encourage us to take time off when needed.
"Whatever happened to just acting like adults?"
Can anyone say "stick in the mud?" Who says adults aren't allowed to have fun, first of all? Second, why would you wish to isolate yourself from the rest of your team mates with 4 walls and a door? There are plenty of spaces at Google if you need some alone time to work on something crucial. Or, you can just go home and do the work there.
Don't hate because you wish you worked here.
April 17, 2008 at 2:24 AM
+1
from another Zoogler (Zurich Googler).
Working at Google Zurich is fun and we have another life outside of Google too.
Payment is comparable with the Swiss salaries, usually the salary in Zurich is up to 30% higher then in the rest of Switzerland.
Benefits are brilliant.
I´m feeling lucky! And I´m not in college age ;)
April 24, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Here's from someone who could have worked at Google, but decided against going through with all the interviews (based on things I heard):
Their office looks great, and to be sure I would enjoy working there - at least until the novelty wears off (which can take a few months at least). But there are other things in life as well. First, call me old-fashion, boring or whatever, but I really enjoy having a good-sized, private university office. Even if that means that I don't have a hanging chair, pool table or whatever. Second, I'm a bit suspicious of this Goog-... culture.
April 25, 2008 at 5:40 AM
I think its great! During my training when I first joined my company, i was told that "if you cant come to work and have atleast a bit of fun, then you shouldnt be coming to work at all". But I find it quite hard to have fun with a desk, a chair and a monitor...oh and a telephone! Google have got it spot on here, looks like a great place to work - its bright, interactive, modern, and probably makes the staff feela bit more appreciated than if they where given something like oh I dont know...free shares, dress down day, pub lunch.....snore!!
April 26, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Homosexuals i would have done it the same way and i'm probably the second sraightest guy you know!!!!
May 7, 2008 at 1:41 PM
do they have a life at all?
May 17, 2008 at 2:31 PM
I wish my next work to have similar office than google office. If the dream of this company was a group of hard working employers with innovative ideas and positive thought then their offices were achieved it.
Who should not work hard or their bosses push him/her to work more??
According my opinion the our coworkers and our offices make our work more efficient and happy.
Well done google!!!
I hope more companies to take you as paradigm!
May 18, 2008 at 3:42 AM
this is ..i wanna work there =)
May 21, 2008 at 10:44 AM
i like it :P those people are so rich...I'm off..gotta catch my train to Switzerland... :)
May 27, 2008 at 11:38 PM
hahahaahhahaha the crap that i see on this blog! hahahaha to even leave a post is bad enough but to sit here and say "capitalism is the winner here" ahhahahahahahahhahahahahaha get a life you donkey ahahahhha
June 10, 2008 at 8:03 AM
Interesting article, thanks for all.
June 20, 2008 at 12:25 PM
what a life working in it !!
July 1, 2008 at 7:50 PM
No work and just play play and PLAY.......
July 2, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Are these people allowed to leave the office? Are there exits? (Oh yeah, when everyone else is using English, what's with the Cyrillic?)
July 4, 2008 at 5:48 PM
"Why do google employees get to have such a lavish office space?"
It's about keeping employees happy. At my office we are treated like cattle, so everyone does as little as possible to keep from getting fired. Not to mention we have the cleaning lady dry our bosses coffee mugs with the same rag she used to wipe down toilet seats with.
July 5, 2008 at 11:41 AM
many men, many mind. google is doing, what they like to do. i think, thats it.
July 13, 2008 at 4:54 AM
awesome....it's lovely to work in such a place
July 18, 2008 at 2:15 AM
ok i have fallen in luv with this work place... google please hire me....hire me.... i very good developer..... hire meeeeee
August 18, 2008 at 4:49 AM
Hey so cool..
I wish if i could get a chance.
September 19, 2008 at 2:52 AM
ooooooooooooooouuuu.... take me... teke me....
is this a work, I don`t think so..
September 22, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Sorry to interrupt the argument, I just remembered a movie quote that I think is appropriate:
Bob Slydell: You see, what we're actually trying to do here is, we're trying to get a feel for how people spend their day at work... so, if you would, would you walk us through a typical day, for you?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah.
Bob Slydell: Great.
Peter Gibbons: Well, I generally come in at least fifteen minutes late, ah, I use the side door - that way Lumbergh can't see me, heh heh - and, uh, after that I just sorta space out for about an hour.
Bob Porter: Da-uh? Space out?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah, I just stare at my desk; but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch, too. I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work.
Yep, it's from Office Space. I'd say it might not be heaven on Earth to work at Google, but compared to other places, I see the benefits. I bet the employees seldom go nuts and kick the fax machine to bits and pieces. :)
September 27, 2008 at 7:18 AM
PURE AWESOMENESS----
September 28, 2008 at 12:41 AM
SUPERB!!! what more can an employee would ask for??? Nothing else but to work efficiently for the benefit of the organization.
October 1, 2008 at 1:03 PM
No wonder Google's stock is in a all-time low. Is GOOG on the no-short list??
October 4, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Incredibly cool!!! :-)
October 8, 2008 at 8:05 AM
Vaya tela nene!....arrrrgggg... Como se lo montan...
October 22, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Seria chulo trabajar ahi‼
November 11, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Looks just like an ad agency except Google's office is filled with people who actually like math.
November 11, 2008 at 5:29 PM
wow
November 13, 2008 at 9:14 AM
ok so now i want to work for google... i know google rox but geex louise
December 3, 2008 at 1:53 AM
i hope i wud eva get a chance to go n work there
December 3, 2008 at 8:31 AM
Cutbacks, google ain`t hiring' anyone atm.
December 3, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Nice place for work
December 3, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Over 25 jaar is ook dit voorbij...
December 8, 2008 at 6:58 AM
Who is the architect/designer of Google's creative office playspace?
December 15, 2008 at 2:37 AM
i also like cheese
December 16, 2008 at 9:47 AM
Looks like a great place for knowledge sharing.
December 31, 2008 at 11:15 AM
This place is great!
January 26, 2009 at 3:25 PM
It's horrible. Looks like it was designed by idiots for idiots. Almost as naff as the words "creative" and "space". I wonder how long this crap is going to last in the current economic climate.
January 30, 2009 at 5:08 AM
looks amazing
February 14, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Hi, I wnat to talk with Larry Page about make t-shirs here in Brazil with Google's logo. My e-mail is arlycardoso@arlycardoso.com
Tks
Arly Cravo
February 23, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Really looks amazing but the first thing I realized "Hansel and Gretel"
March 3, 2009 at 4:56 AM
How much cost this hotel? Could be a great idea spend some times here.
March 26, 2009 at 11:25 PM
its really great to see such kind of office... really, if i ll ever get a chance to be a part of this organization, i ll never let it go... AWESOME...
March 26, 2009 at 11:30 PM
every organisation has its aim, the outlook of this organisation is great... if it is providing all the pleasures to their employees then such kind of hard work would be required, but if the employees will get such a good environment, then i think every employee would love to give their best... really great place to work...
April 9, 2009 at 3:30 AM
Since 10 years I work on creating the optimal working conditions for intelectuals (software programmers, web designers, clerks, accountants, telesales staff etc.). For me this office in Zurich is more Internal and External Marketing than real care about employees - in most situation they work in unhelathy conditions bended on the sofas or chairs with laptops on the low tables or own knees. Even when they work with the workstations (desk + operational chairs) it's obvious that no-one has teached them how to adjust and use the seats in healthy way. The same on the photos from this office.
April 9, 2009 at 3:36 AM
I wonder about performance ratio/productivity of Google staff - if they have so much attractions which divert their attention from work, how much extra time they should spend to reach their targets/to make his duties?
April 10, 2009 at 5:27 PM
is there any vacancies in Google.. i want to work at goole. (^^)v
April 10, 2009 at 9:07 PM
imagine if i 'm part of google...i wonder about the google employ perfomance
May 3, 2009 at 4:37 AM
I really want to work over here such a cool environment i never seen before
May 11, 2009 at 1:06 AM
Really impressive and mind boggling !!!
May 15, 2009 at 10:04 AM
gj, I'm too want working there :)
_______________
Design-Review.info
May 18, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Hi, i feeling to reach this enjoy & awe some work place......
May 30, 2009 at 3:12 AM
Hiring? twit me know ! @fcseh
June 8, 2009 at 8:28 AM
only I'll type those Comments again,,coz that's wat i believe too,,,
nizki // April 9, 2009 3:30 AM
"Since 10 years I work on creating the optimal working conditions for intelectuals (software programmers, web designers, clerks, accountants, telesales staff etc.). For me this office in Zurich is more Internal and External Marketing than real care about employees - in most situation they work in unhealthy conditions bended on the sofas or chairs with laptops on the low tables or own knees. Even when they work with the workstations (desk + operational chairs) it's obvious that no-one has teached them how to adjust and use the seats in healthy way. The same on the photos from this office."
"I wonder about performance ratio/productivity of Google staff - if they have so much attractions which divert their attention from work, how much extra time they should spend to reach their targets/to make his duties?"
tnx for sharing
June 18, 2009 at 8:19 AM
I wanna work there...what can I do??
I currently work in a bank and is KILLING ME!! this looks like a kick ass job.
July 24, 2009 at 8:02 AM
People who talk bad about the workplace are just subconsciously jealous of not having the same opportunity. I know many ppl woking in google and they are extremely happy with their job, office and schedule (which is made by the worker)
July 30, 2009 at 1:48 AM
They are happy now, but what they will in 5-7 years working in conditions totally in opposite to ergonomic ones?
July 30, 2009 at 5:09 PM
You can never see this kind of "Japanese company" 's office here....I wonder then how they create all thing being surrounded by 4 white walls?
October 11, 2009 at 6:40 AM
I think the office is a very cool idea. I work in a kitchen and i work long hours every day of every week and it would be very nice to be able to go have some fun on my break.
November 17, 2009 at 2:03 PM
These are Montessori children (founders) grown up! Good for them. I can only hope my little Montessori child does the same! They are happy and it shows. There is proof it works - just look at the bottom line and "happy factor" goes a longer way than you think.
November 23, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Maybe this IS a waste of money, but judging on how efficient the Google site is, the colorful workspace must really work. And if the Googleites don't like the hours or workspace, they can always quit.
I am SO jealous of this office. This makes me want to get a job there...
January 21, 2010 at 10:24 PM
The Beginning The working life is already tough enough, but the worries of being out of work was even tougher. The unsecured working environment have prompted me to search the internet for an alternative source of extra income so that I could learn how to Make Money Work for me and be Financially Independent. I listed down a number of Free Internet Business Opportunity Ideas while researching ways how people earn money online while working-from-home.......
www.onlineuniversal.com
February 4, 2010 at 9:22 PM
For people who are saying negative things like "this is how to keep employees working ridiculously long hours", the 6 figure income they get would be sufficient to do this by itself. Creating this sort of workplace both shows employees you care and increases productivity.
February 15, 2010 at 11:30 AM
So wow. Why would anyone anywhere be angry about people working in a place like this? Ok, so it may not look ergonomic, and it may not be a utilitarian 1984 style work place. But I can tell you from experience. IT IS WAY BETTER THAN 90% OF ALL OFFICES ANYWHERE! I love going home to my family but I also love the oh so important "me time" that a workplace like this would also provide. And by the way this is totally heading towards a "Shadowrun" style arcology that the workers live, eat, sh!t, and die in...
April 24, 2010 at 6:07 AM
oh my god.. this is like going to disneyland! extremely ingenious.. how many people go to work in the morning and are actually happy to?
congrats, sincerely this is a dream!
to all the people who are giving negative comments, i just have to say.. jealous much? you'd rather work in a cubicle i guess, right? or in a classic office, because when u were young you were imagining yourself in a suit and briefcase, inside a pretensious, modern-wannabe, cheap environment. you probably didn't even get to have that, which results in your hateful pessimistic attitude. i pitty you..
May 25, 2010 at 1:52 AM
Wow! This is sooo amazing! Very sexy!
August 6, 2010 at 12:44 AM
This is really amazing! This is why i chose Google for my thesis proposal. Could someone help me? i calling for any Googler to help me regarding my thesis. I'm an 5th year architectural student and I need some 1st hand source. please mail me. thanks
December 4, 2010 at 4:54 PM
Not that cool... more tacky than anything. I'm sure it is impressive for someone who works at a businesspark in rural America but if you visit other powerhouses like like AON or Hewitt they have all the creature comforts with tasteful and expensive designs.
February 19, 2011 at 10:44 AM
I had a phone interview and was invited for interviews, but I declined in the end. The main reason was that they just didn't listen. First of all they wanted to interview me for a job I did not want (which was corrected). Secondly, they ignored my preferences for a date for the interview. Then they booked a plane at a different time then I really wanted.
Things like this make me think a lot about what the attention to people really is at google. Also, despite that the working environment might be really cool and the work might be interesting, I think my career would be in danger working on all this proprietary stuff.
Apart from this, almost everyone focusses on all the interesting perks in the office, but I saw a video in which they mentioned that in effect only 6% of the office space is used for that.
February 21, 2011 at 12:10 PM
That's funny I also had an invitation and similar doubts but decided to go anyway. In my opinion, it can't hurt just to visit them and see what it's all about. Interview will be in a few weeks time.
July 18, 2011 at 2:56 AM
Well, whether you like google or not. they've understood one cruicial thing concerning success: keep your staff and employees motivated in every possible way you can. So the logical concequence: people do not only work for google, they live google.