<![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway - Gizmodo Comments]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway - Gizmodo Comments]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> What I just don't understand is how they expect anyone to get any work done under these circumstances. I get that they're "trying to facilitate creative energy" but it just doesn't make sense. They're a business, not a play-school.

And yes, I know how much money Google is worth. It just seems a little mock-ish of every other working stiff out there.

And yes, for the record, I am UNFATHOMABLY jealous of those people "working" there. Granted, my interest lies in military history, which is why I'm a defense analyst, but still. It must be pretty cool to work there.

Another thing I just realized is that they must become bored with all of the flash after a while. It just seems like something where you'd say "WOAH! This place is awesome!" for a period of time, but then the novelty factor just wears off. I don't know. Just my two Krugerrands. Because my thoughts are worth that much. :p

SonOfMagicFact

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Out of all those pictures, I liked the "slide" the most.

-Core-

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> I used to work at Red Bull's North American headquarters. It was pretty amazing like this too. No slide, but serious skateboard ramp.

mattya56

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> See those pods in Picture 23? Make sure you don't get any houseflies trapped in them with you.

Ubik2501

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> I don't want to rain on your envy parade, but, I used to teach art at a university, and the one thing that I could count on were "CREATIVE!" people doing shit work. You know the type, dressed all in black, holding the hippest caramel-latte-macchiato whatever, talking on their cell phone and never ever picking up a paintbrush or a hammer. They'd staple some shit together on the last day and call it art. It was shit.

Those photos just scream "CREATIVE!" and if you ask me, the only creative thing happening there is justifying their paycheck when they have nothing to show for it. Maybe when GOOG takes a nosedive they'll merge "Google" and "Garage Sale" as a headline. Now that's "CREATIVE!"

sansovino

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @lafond66: Or slave labor. Take your pick.

ViperBorg

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @Jesustron:

Hehe, I was wondering if anyone noticed that. Guess those "high IQ Google kids" aren't so smart afterall, huh??

mdm508

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Sort of looks like an adult day care center. The fuck-pods are cool though...

nat lyon

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Just show me more of the cafeteria. The only time I want to treat myself and be selfish at work is during lunch. You can cut out the slide and the video games from the budget as long as you keep great food at hand.

Kohono

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Would have been a great symbol if they had chosen Geneva, where the Web was born and where the people speak French (and don't think Switzerland speaks exclusively German...) ;)

Z

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> I hate to say this, but as a dot com SF witness? This seems like a bunch of pictures snapped back in '98-'99. It's like when everyone wanted to invest in something they knew nothing about and then realized they were being had: Stupid people with lots of dough throwing it at the flaming bandwagon flying off a cliff.

EXCEPT!

Google actually provides services, unlike most bogus, extinct dot coms.

BUT!

They offer no service that justifies their disgusting, hyped stock market prices & childish interior design. Sorry, but if you want loyal shareholders, it might be better to show people working, not jacking off to guitar hero in a overgrown playground.

johnnyabnormal

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> I wonder if there actually are fairly sound economics behind this. How much less can Google pay in terms of salaries and/or recruitment spending because of the the great reputation they get for having for this kind of workplace?

Soulcannon

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @Trowble (XBL/PSN): you'd move to switzerland when getting a work permit.

krom

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @Trowble (XBL/PSN):

That's the only reason you can think of to want to move to Zurich?!

Malfoy

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> This is why their stock price has tanked recently and will continue to do so further. 16k people are not necessary for search and their smattering of moderately-ok beta products. Continuing to pour money into stupid shit will seal their fate in the next decade.

cruci-fiction

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> yeah creativity comes from within not living in some nuthouse. I would go crazy working there. imagine being in a hurry...take the gondola! or in a bad mood...neon lights in your face. Kind of reminds of the dorms. I appreciated all the effort to make the place fun..but after a week I just wanted to do my thing without interfloor contests or sushi night or theme day.

redkamel

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @DucatiGuy: Uhhh yeah, because Google is a really unsuccessful company and it would totally suck to work there.

golferal

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Why don't my comments work :S?

Mr.Rob

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> WOAH! I live in Zuirch, and about 3 weeks ago, a guy from Google came and talked to us about it. He had all the exact pics, and showed it to us...

Gizmodo's writers are peds =[

Mr.Rob

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @KurticusMaximus: I would use the fire pole every day, because they are incredibly awesome.

japroach

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Yeah, I'm thinking this would get really old really fast.

I mean, seriously, how many adults are going to use the slide after the first week? That's just a pain in the ass.

It's cool when companies treat their employees well. Good food, that's awesome. Providing some games or something for entertainment on breaks, that's awesome too.

But this is way, way overboard. At some point, these people do actually need to sit at a desk and do something boring. That's what work is. Covering the walls with stripes and neon and bright pillows doesn't make it less boring.

Treating your employees well shouldn't mean treating them like seventh graders at Chuck E Cheese. You don't need sensory overload, just make it a comfortable work environment with some nice perks. Save the Gondalas for Disneyworld.

KurticusMaximus

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Anybody else catch the pretend guitar hero playing?

rawbdee

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> So, we see where they play. Now, where the hell do they WORK?

Samifumi

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> I wouldn't be able to stand this. I want to work in an office, not a preschool funhouse.

avalys

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> at my company we have an all black, white or cream dess code. I am a rebel. I wear colors. There! my very own little Google microcosmos! :-)

mumin

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Is picture 8 a sex chair?

Cormier6083

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> "awe-inspiringly amazing" ... "an exercise in lateral-thinking"
Kit, it sounds like you're having a Googlegasm.

packetsniffer

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Well f*@*! That's all I have to say. :(((

.
.
.
I want a slide!!!!

pcdsim

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> If I was a Google shareholder, I would not be happy with the ridiculous expenditures to make the office resemble disneyland. My place has a pool table and free spring water and everybody seems to be happy with their desks and chairs.

dezeinstein

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> I Would get soooo much done while working there.... *Cough*Not*cough* Obviously productivity is not a priority in Swizerland

DanyBrancho

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @CampSteve: What, the green slime dripping off the front of the building wasn't enough? :)

infmom

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @halfshafter: could be sir. good point!

Amiash is inquisitive

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> There are far too many themed privacy cubicles. It's obvious they're dealing in black market diamonds and/or drugs.

Half off all shafts!

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> picture 20: Rocking out to some XBOX360 menu. Look closer, you can almost make out their gamertag, and their pathetic gamerscore.

faabshaam

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Over the top and screams 'look how cool it is to work here!'.

The psychology involved here is gradescool: supposedly immersing people in interesting and eye catching environments will allow them to be more creative and therefore more productive.

In the end, while it's more interesting than the common office, people working there will end up ignoring it all.

Gofastmazda

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Umm..the "bookshelf wallpaper" is kinda cheesy though.

ustna

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @Jesustron: Ha. That's the first thing I noticed.

This is neat and all, but a way over the top. I think it would grow old and annoying to actually work in this place. "Can I get an Aeron for f*ck sake? This rowboat futon thing is really uncomfortable."

fiveinchtaint

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Our Company only allows us to play all the console that is available, and its seems fun... for Gamers, not for the majority here.. I envy that place.

Amiash is inquisitive

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Champagne wishes and caviar dreams.

scarbrtj

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @Jesustron: Good point sir. how the hell did they do that?

Amiash is inquisitive

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @DucatiGuy:
Yea. Because I'm sure Google execs live in shithouses.

Dook_In_The_Urinal

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> @DucatiGuy: Any actual context or examples you wanna throw in there?

strobefx

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> They're playing Xbox360 Dashboard Hero.

Jesustron

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> In the long run, those who think "outside of the box" end up living inside one. I'll stick to the more traditional means of doing business...

DucatiGuy

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Dosn't look like a lot of work is going on...

johnnyabnormal

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Such a smart concept. Seriously, companies that treat their employees like this make it clear why they rose to the top. Another one that does this is Nike. Their employees spend their free time playing sport.

lafond66

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Picture 12 -- holy shit!

I'll move to Switzerland if I could get a job with Google.

Trowble (XBL/PSN)

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Didn't we do this already a couple months ago?

homerjay

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> freakin amazing... my goal is to work in a place like this... im gonna print out some of these pictures so i can look at them while im sobbing in my white/grey office shithole... i dont even have a facking cubicle.

Papsky

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> I've always wanted to work for GOOGLE.

One day... I know one day...

xint

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> We almost got a slide from one floor to another when I was at Nickelodeon but they nixed it at the last moment. Looks fun.

This also makes me want a gondola in my house. Maybe when I remodel...

CampSteve

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Fake Steve Jobs talking to "Fake Eric Schmidt" of Google:

Eric Schmidt:
"I talked to him last night and he's like, Dude, we give these idiots free lobster tails for lunch; we do their laundry and cut their hair; we've got pony rides on Tuesday afternoons."

Fake Steve:
"You a big deal of only hiring these super-high-IQ kiddies and the fact is that most of them truly are smart, but then you put them into this horribly dull and easy drone work on AdWords and AdSense and they're all bored to tears and totally disappointed because they really really really thought they were going to do something meaningful with their lives and now they're just worker bees -- pampered worker bees, sure, but still -- and maybe they should have taken that offer from McKinsey but they really thought Google was going to be so cool and blah blah blah."

So this makes perfect sense.

LindsayJoy's MBP is into S+M

]]> <![CDATA[Google's Zurich HQ: Office Fun For Everyone... Who Works There, Anyway]]> Fake Steve Jobs talking to "Fake Eric Schmidt" of Google:

Eric Schmidt:

"I talked to him last night and he's like, Dude, we give these idiots free lobster tails for lunch; we do their laundry and cut their hair; we've got pony rides on Tuesday afternoons."

Fake Steve:

"You a big deal of only hiring these super-high-IQ kiddies and the fact is that most of them truly are smart, but then you put them into this horribly dull and easy drone work on AdWords and AdSense and they're all bored to tears and totally disappointed because they really really really thought they were going to do something meaningful with their lives and now they're just worker bees -- pampered worker bees, sure, but still -- and maybe they should have taken that offer from McKinsey but they really thought Google was going to be so cool and blah blah blah."

So this makes perfect sense.

LindsayJoy's MBP is into S+M

]]>