Reward systems are imperative for companies to motivate their employees and ultimately drive the company forward. They often focus us promising promotions, increasing salaries and recognizing their works one way or other. However, Google takes a different approach. They provide a cafeteria with free gourmet food and snacks to its employees.

This reward system sounds bizarre in the beginning, as employees are being rewarded with or without making an achievement. They are simply being rewarded just for going to work. However, this kind of reward system may actually be the real motivators of the workers. This unconditional care towards its employees not only move the employees, but also ultimately nurture them. What we notice in many successful companies is that its employees like what they do and are passionate about it. In other words, rewards such as promotions and salaries come second in their priority list. Then, why is Google adopting such reward system? The reason is that having the unconditional reward system of providing a cafeteria and free food will provide employees with comfortable working space that they can grow fond of. It is to aid them in liking what they do and liking where they work rather than luring them to work.

As this blog suggests the goal of Google is to “explain to the employee why he or she is valuable, and to select rewards that are thoughtful”.

(image from http://www.businessinsider.com/google-employee-favorite-perks-2013-3)

Business Insider. (n.d.). Google employees reveal their favorite perks working for the company. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/google-employee-favorite-perks-2013-3