Laszlo Bock on Google’s Approach to HR

Google offers its staff a variety of perks to boost efficiency and creativity, and to build a sense of community.

From cafés and climbing walls to free dry cleaning, the Google campus offers its employees a broad range of perks. Google considers these added benefits “enabling factors,” aimed at achieving several purposes. They allow employees to interact informally with each other, and thus, strengthen the sense of community among co-workers. The campus setup increases the possibility of chance encounters, which create opportunities for idea exchanges that may lead to innovation. Finally, Google allows workers to take care of common errands, such as oil changes, on its campus, so that employees can work more efficiently and with greater focus.

Google’s organizational...