How Google keeps employees by treating them like kids (2006)
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Re: How Google keeps employees by treating them like kids (2006)
#2RIP
Re: How Google keeps employees by treating them like kids (2006)
#3This article always struck me as being composed of two distinctly different opinions. One, Aaron's assertion that employees at Google are being infantilized. Two, that Google's mission and their overall morale and sense of purpose has changed.
Two may be true; I can't speak but anecdotally to this (and nor could he).
But One always struck me as very mean-spirited and unnecessary. As if told by the father in Peter Pan, or Scrooge. As if Google's engineers should be wearing suits (like the "lowlifes" he so despises?) and sitting in Aeron chairs, only, and forgetting about such silly things as dinosaurs and space travel.
Re: How Google keeps employees by treating them like kids (2006)
#4read this before noticing it was written in 2006 by Aaron Schwartz. That certainly colors the perspective. I wonder how much has changed.
Re: How Google keeps employees by treating them like kids (2006)
#5I thought it looked creepy, like an adult daycare center.
I was approached twice and interviewed twice by Google but I don't think I'd fit that culture.
No offices -- just open spaces.
A meritocracy where you are evaluated by your peers generally, rather than by a boss or customer for your merits in a particular job.
Where you don't even know what you will be working on until you're hired, as if that gives you a choice.
Lots of silly signs hanging, some of which would be trademark violations if displayed in public (Bombay Sapphire, etc.).
Too academic (from Stanford days?) for my tastes.
Re: How Google keeps employees by treating them like kids (2006)
#6Growing up is overrated anyway.
Re: How Google keeps employees by treating them like kids (2006)
#7This article always struck me as being composed of two distinctly different opinions. One, Aaron's assertion that employees at Google are being infantilized. Two, that Google's mission and their overall morale and sense of purpose has changed. Two may be true; I can't speak but anecdotally to this (and nor could he). But One always struck me as very mean-spirited and unnecessary. As if told by the father in Peter Pan…
You do know that one of Aaron's strengths, or at least a point of focus, was gamification. Looking at this article in that light you realize that he was trying to stir up a conversation. He also didn't seem to bother to be nice, at least when he had an opposing opinion.
Re: How Google keeps employees by treating them like kids (2006)
#8read this before noticing it was written in 2006 by Aaron Schwartz. That certainly colors the perspective. I wonder how much has changed.
not much. i quit a few months ago and so happy to be out of that insane place. they compare your work against your coworkers, so its constant competition, even if you meet your "goals". they also have zero work/life balance.
all that free food and google shuttles wear off after a couple of months. then their non-stop work life settles in and you realize you made a horrible decision by accepting the job offer.
the only bright side is you get stock options and have a great company on your resume.
Re: How Google keeps employees by treating them like kids (2006)
#9read this before noticing it was written in 2006 by Aaron Schwartz. That certainly colors the perspective. I wonder how much has changed.
I was flown in for an interview a few months ago, coulda been written yesterday in my opinion.
Re: How Google keeps employees by treating them like kids (2006)
#10The Google = slimy politician comparison really undercuts the detached perspective that he's hoping to impart to Googlers or potential Googlers.