THE OFFICE perks enjoyed by “Googlers”, as the world’s largest internet search engine calls its staff, have become legendary since the company opened its European headquarters in Dublin in 2003.
An onsite swimming pool, if approved by Dublin City Council planners, would be the latest leisure facility on offer to staff who already have access to a gym, and several pool tables, table tennis, table football, Scalectrix and video game consoles.
If all that becomes exhausting, employees can take time to relax on one of the many beanbags provided or avail of a weekly relaxation massage.
A snooze might be necessary at some point in the day given that staff have unlimited access to free food. The phenomenon of the “Google stone” is well known among new employees who tend to put on weight until becoming accustomed to the bounty.
In addition to onsite restaurants serving a range of international fare, there are also kitchens stocked with free snacks on each floor.
For many of the company’s young staff, the university lifestyle can be extended, but instead of bringing their washing home, they can avail of the staff laundry and dry-cleaning services.
If this all seems rather paternalistic, it is an image Google seems to have no difficulty in peddling , as the company literature states: “We strive to be the best at what we do and that includes our approach to looking after our employees – our Googlers.”
More mature staff might, however, be attracted by benefits such as free medical healthcare, free travel insurance, life and disability insurance, children’s parties, transport supplements and extended maternity and paternity leave benefits.
For civic-minded Googlers, the company has a philanthropy programme and gives time off for volunteering in local communities. It also has a “gift- matching” programme where Google matches contributions of up to $12,000 a year from eligible employees to approved non-profit organisations.
The company currently has vacancies in its Dublin offices in software engineering, engineering operations and management sales, general and administrative, advertising sales and customer support, enterprise, finance, human resources, marketing and communications, legal and public policy, business operations and development, and real estate and workplace services.
