Companies such as Google, Yahoo, and Facebook have long been known for their innovative attitudes towards their staff. They provide a variety of perks and benefits, as well as more relaxed offices, with a focus on activities, food, and fun. This way of working has started to trickle down to smaller companies, and has finally reached the shores of the U.K, where companies are updating their offices to meet the trend.
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What are the perks of working in this way?
An article in The Guardian gave an insight into the way the Google offices work. The grounds feature meadows, allotments, free yoga classes and bicycles to get from meeting to meeting. The buildings and surrounding areas are designed to make people feel relaxed and happy; to make the workplace somewhere that people want to be. Google also prides itself on flexible working hours. It allows people to work from home or provides childcare for on-site staff together with long maternity leave. They have a Fleet Vehicle Tracking system in place similar to the one found at https://www.vehicle-accessories.net/vehicle-tracking/fleet-tracking/ to monitor costings, performance and any thefts. They will know instantly where the cars are at all times.Â
Sounds amazing … and over on The Business Insider there’s a virtual tour of Facebook’s London offices, showing the motivational posters on the wall, chill out meeting areas, and even a roof terrace with a BBQ.
It’s no secret that trendy Wales is the hub of innovative tech companies in the UK. Visit many offices in the area and you will find relaxed staff having meetings in coffee shops, or enjoying breaks by the beach which they can do fun activities on. This new style is spreading around the country, being led from the front by Tudur their creative Director often found down the gym thinking up his next idea (whilst planning his next trip to an exotic place that is)
Having this relaxed and fun atmosphere is sure to breed creativity and employee loyalty. Creativity can be sparked by a change of scenery, or mixing up the way meetings are held. Facebook employees are more likely to come up with innovative ideas if they are being challenged in new and interesting ways. It seems this ethos is becoming more and more popular in the UK. At the moment, it is found mainly with tech companies, but this is sure to develop across other industries. It is a strategy that has worked well for US tech giants and sounds like a great model to follow.