Google Named Best Place to Work in Australia

CORPORATE success is clearly linked to staff satisfaction - and internet search company Google is the proof.


After its outstandingly successful parent company topped a 100 Best Places To Work survey conducted by the US magazine Fortune, Google Australia has claimed the No.1 spot in a similar Australian poll.


BRW, which conducted the study, said Google had created a legendary corporate culture of perks, fun, appreciation and reward for its staff.


The facilities and conditions that make Google Australia the nation's best place to work include beanbag-filled meeting rooms, ping-pong tables and a free cafeteria.


The company, whose name has achieved such status that "to Google'' has passed into the vernacular, is part of what is apparently the most popular industry sector for employees, information technology.


BRW's Top 50 Great Places to Work list was based on research conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute, Australia which surveyed more than 15,000 employees.


The magazine said there was a common theme at all the Top 50 companies - perks.


Benefits vary from free iPods, Krispy Kreme doughnuts and the opportunity for international travel.


The popular firms also offer such benefits as education subsidies, on-site fitness centres or subsidised gym memberships, flexible work arrangements including telecommuting, health insurance plans, senior management opportunities for women and child care.


The top employers see perks and benefits as a way to motivate staff, bucking the trend of other companies that have slashed benefits as the economy slides. IBM recently cut out free coffee worldwide to reduce costs.


Of BRW's top 50 list, 29 are local firms, two are home-grown multinationals and 19 are Australian branches of multinational companies.


The best-represented sector is information technology with 12, followed by seven marketing companies, five in financial services and four legal firms.


The Top Ten Great Places to Work


(Sorted by: Rank, company, number of employees, industry sector, location of head office)


1. Google Australia, 312, Internet Services, Sydney,
2. NetApp Australia, 146, Information Technology,Sydney
3. Russell Investments, 241, Financial Services, Sydney
4. Diageo, 553, Manufacturing (food, beverages), Sydney
5. Dynamic Property Services, 41, Business services (property management), Sydney
6. ETM Group, 73 (55 full-time), Business services (Travel, events management), Melbourne
7. BMD Group, 1194, Construction, Brisbane
8. MRWED Training & Assessment, 20 (11 fulltime), Education services, Sunshine Coast
9. Red Balloon, 46 (38 full-time), Retail, Sydney
10. OBS, 102 (98 full-time), Information technology, Melbourne

Source: http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,25404188-5012424,00.html


 Comment: Working for Google is really a dream job of a lifetime! We thus need to arm ourselves with the right attitude to suceed.