This post has been backed up at Blogspot in case it disappears. It is about the alleged work environment at Google (USA) versus Microsoft (USA). It covers topics such as:
- What is the culture really like? How many hours are people actually working? What are the least amount of hours you can work before you are looked down upon?
- 20% of your time on personal project. How many people actually get to use it? If so, how do they use it? Does Google own your personal project?
- What are the office arrangements like? Do you have an office or cube space?
- What is the management structure like (hierarchy)?
- Do they actually have plans for career development?
- Who would you recommend Google to? Is it for the college kid or family type, worker bee or innovator?
- Please provide any additional information that you believe will help in our battle for talent against Google?
I have worked for a San Jose company that offered some of the benefits such as free food and snacks and agree that it makes a lot of sense (for the company) to keep the employees anchored to the workplace. I have visited a few of the Redmond buildings at MSFT too and I agree that the latter does not resemble a sheltered workshop for college grads, as the Googleplex is made out to be.