Why is Google offering free food to employees? CEO Sundar Pichai reveals the reason

Google’s free meals are not just about offering employees a perk, they serve a deeper purpose, according to CEO Sundar Pichai. In a recent interview on The David Rubenstein Show, Pichai explained that the company’s decision to provide complimentary meals is a strategic move to encourage collaboration and spark creativity.
Talking about his own experience, Pichai shared that many of Google’s innovative ideas emerged during casual conversations over meals. Since joining Google as a product manager in 2004, he has witnessed how these informal dining interactions improve creativity. “Several times, I would meet someone at a cafe, and our discussion would lead to exciting new ideas,” he said, highlighting how these spontaneous exchanges can often lead to breakthroughs.
Pichai also highlighted that Google’s free meal initiative helps build a collaborative work culture. These communal spaces bring employees from various departments together, creating opportunities for brainstorming and problem-solving. He pointed out that the long-term benefits of such interactions far outweigh the costs of providing meals, seeing them as an investment in innovation rather than just an employee benefit.
In addition to free meals, Google is known for its employee-friendly policies, which have helped the tech giant become one of the most desirable employers globally. With a workforce of over 1,82,000 employees, Google offers benefits like flexible remote work options, health insurance, paid time off, and wellness programs. These perks are part of why nearly 90 percent of job candidates accept offers from the company, according to Pichai.
When discussing Google’s hiring process, Pichai noted that the company seeks diverse qualities depending on the position. In particular, for engineering roles, they look for skilled software developers who can easily adapt to new challenges. The goal, according to Pichai, is to find “superstar software engineers” who can thrive in Google’s dynamic environment.
However, despite its wide range of employee benefits, Google has scaled back some perks in recent years. In 2023, the company announced plans to cut back on certain offerings, including reducing the hours of some office cafes and consolidating kitchen spaces. Still, Pichai pointed out that Google’s benefits remain among the most competitive in the industry, continuing to set a high standard for workplaces in Silicon Valley.