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Google Inc., a giant among technology service providers based in Mountain View, California, USA has remained one of the leaders, if not reigning #1, Best Companies to Work for in America, by employees globally. Google’s brand name is the biggest in the world today. The brand name Google represents a brand that is built on culture that is high on trust, low on politics, dynamic sharing resources and sharing wealth, and full of meaning and significance.
Human Resource specialists are important in business strategies due to the dynamic markets, economic situations in global recessions and global industries and sectors. The spotlight has been given to the HR department in every organization to act as mentors to employees, guiding, training and educating them in every change within the organization and industry.
Well trained and competent employees who demonstrate their superior skills and organization to customers in effective manner, help increase customer satisfaction and overall clientele by increasing credibility and reputation in business. Effective HR planning and development practices bring quality and loyalty among workers who remain committed and positive about success in their organization.
Within the international market today, there is a developed interest in innovation and trust more than comparative analysis of sales and market shares.
Google’s Goals and Vision
Since 1998, Google has been established as a company that was to be a company ran by geeks. The HR department has played a big part in aiming to attract the best minds across the global to work for Google.
Google’s Business Strategic Model Considering
Google’s continued reputation to be one of the top global workplaces, there is a visionary approach when assessing the work environment for the “geeks,” that Google hires. According to Peter Norvig, one of Google’s engineers, the average search took 3 seconds and today it’s about 0.2 seconds, which is greater than zero, so it’s not fast enough. Google motivates geeks by presenting them with tasks that stimulate brainpower, promotes self-benchmarks and quest for solving something. Google has adopted an intrinsic vision that is envied by competitors. Google wants employees to be as committed to technology solutions and services as the creators. Google focuses heavily on human capital creation and retention. The business strategy for Google is reflected in a vision statement that is seen in the company’s “The Ten Things,” a visionary delivery of expectations for employees.
Google’s philosophy has created operating guidelines for the Human Resource department which are broad and amicable. This philosophy is aimed towards the creation, innovation and unique solutions which would build Google’s empire through reputation, brand equity and uniqueness.
HR is Google’s Strategic Ninja
HR serves similar purpose in every organization, ensuring employees are motivated, committed to get organization with integrity and honesty. HR can be seen as a service provider for the employees and in some ways, employees are the customers- meaning treat the employees as customers are expected to be treated and customer satisfaction and delivery becomes easy to adopt and adapt. The work culture at Google reflects how the business model and strategy are focused on delivering the best solution. The workplaces and Google offices are global and built with employees in mind, plenty of space for creativity to flourish, while the job requirements are being studied, worked on and mastered.
Google offers 20% off time for employees for creative pursuits, which is a huge reward for the HR department. HR devised a business strategy that encourages employees to take 1 day a week and work on personal projects that may or may not officially work, then the employees return the to algorithms and semantic programs for search engine and Adwords services.
Google’s Recruitment
It is not unlikely to believe that resumes are flying in the inboxes of the HR department for eager candidates to land a career working for Google. HR takes the first step in Recruitment and has been incredibly successful, due to the low turnover data and retention rates. Ideal candidates are among a median age of 27, the youngest workforce in the industry and targets cyber-generation professionals who adapt to change easily. HR hosts many Google events as recruiting tools and promotes awareness of the internal Google culture.
Google’s Training & Development
Professional development opportunities are offered to Google employees as classes which include individual presentations and team presentation skills, content development, business writing, executive speaking, delivering feedback, and management/leadership, among others. Google also promotes learning several different languages free including, French, Spanish, Japanese and Mandarin. The free language courses is a smart way for Google to gain loyal employees whom would thrive in foreign markets on expatriate assignments.
Google offers an Engineering training group, engEDU, which provides orientation and training classes, mentoring, career development, and tutorial services. Google has developed and expanded global education and development teams and created new leadership development programs to help develop and support Gogole’s future leaders. As much as 92% of employees indicated that they are provided training & development to further them professionally and 97% indicate they are given the resources and equipment to perform their job.
Google has made it mandatory for all employees to undergo training and development sessions for a minimum of 120 hours/year, which is approximately three times the industry average in North America- 43 hours/year. The dedication and determination that Google invests in their employees displays the amount of effort, time and money spent to keep employees professional and technologically advanced.
“Don’t Be Evil,” Corporate Motto
Google’s informal corporate motto, “Don’t Be Evil,” reminds employees that commitment needs to be ethical is part and piece of being a leader at Google. Management is honest and ethical in business practices. The standards of conduct Google employees adhere to concern internal business practices, i.e. respect one another, protect confidentiality, protect Google’s materials, etc., external relations with customers and partners and the impact on Google’s work on the world.
Google has been coined to be one of the most desired organizations to work for, yet one of the most underpaying employers in the industry. The HR strategy fits perfectly with he business model and vision at Google, where employees are attracted not the short-term employment but the support system that could inspire them to create anything. Google offers amenities such as, day care, elder care centers, spa and hair salons, car wash, oil check facilities and virtually everything to make the lives of Google employee’s less stressful, so they can continue to geek out and revolutionize tomorrow’s technology.
All of this is included in a benefits package and stock option system at Google guarantees employees receive compensation competitively thanks to continued equity growth in the company. The work culture and employee commitment has provided tangible compensation that Google reports being the first company where the Board of Directors requested a pay reduction in salaries and compensation due to feeling they were getting paid more than necessary. Employees shadowed this sentiment and accepted a wage cut.
Google’s Perks and Benefits
Imagine a workplace that takes the stress out of daily life, including cooking. Google offers free breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, dental facilities, oil changes/car washes, courier, fitness centers, banking center and on-site medical facilities. For expectant mothers and fathers, the mother receives 18 weeks of additional paid time off post maternity leave and new fathers 7 weeks off to “bond,” with the newborns. This pay is the same amount as regular compensation. Google offers unlimited sick leave and 27 days of paid-time off after one year of employment. Other incentives include $5000 rebate for employees purchasing a hybrid car and annual health fair that offer free testing, such as eye exams and free flu shots.