Reflections from visiting Facebook HQ
I paid a visit tot the Facebook HQ in Menlo Park because of all the amazing things I have heard, and spoke at length to my friend working there. Apart from the usual perks, there were some takeaways I felt was useful for building/running any company.
- Welfare
Happy employees make a productive company, and Facebook makes employees more than happy…
Food — All 3 meals are provided, and Facebook doesn’t scrimp. Whatever your diet is; Vegan, Carnivore, Asian, Indian, American, Health nut, Facebook has it all. There are around 8–10 dining venues with an extensive daily menu for employees to pick from. Just the menu will make you look forward to going to work.
On most days, employees get cheeses, barbecues and exotic dishes. Each cafe has at least a 3 course option, and you can bring your friends and family anytime. Drinks and snacks are available the whole day. Oh and did I mention there is an ice cream parlour for that sweet ending?
As much as an entire army is required to feed the employees (I was told that the kitchen works around the clock), it has been calculated that the average cost per meal per employee is about $7. Factor that you are paying on average around $50 an hour/employee and the nearest eating place is 3 miles away, Facebook is actually getting the sweet end of the deal.
Wellness — Facebook has an on-campus gym, mini-soccer court, rock-climbing wall, with drinks and energy bars provided. Not impressed? There are also spinning classes, trainers, and a nutritionist on-site. Still not impressed? Does wellness include finger exercise? Because Facebook has an arcade and Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) machines (remember those?)!
Work-life balance — Employees can choose to work from home on Wednesdays. There is generous maternity and paternity leave given, and nursing rooms on site.
Needless to say, transport is also provided. Everything is provided for so that employees don’t have to worry about any needs and can focus on their work. Facebook makes it so comfortable that employees may find it hard to leave.
2. Openness and connectivity
The underlying design of the campus is one long, connected structure where employees can move around easily. Nobody, including Mark Zuckerberg, has their own enclosed space with the open seating plan. You could practically shout from one end to the other. Top it off with a beautiful rooftop garden with swings, hammocks, and roof-top dining to get some inspiration away from your desk.
3. Communication
Despite having grown to this size (13,000 employees globally) there are weekly Friday town hall sessions with senior executives. Those who can’t make it can view them online or via recordings. During that hour, employees can voice any concerns or questions.
4. Empowerment
My friend, a software engineer shared that even junior engineers or interns get to push code to production. This means their code actually appears on the site! I was told of stories where an employee questioned Mark Zuckerberg on his (then)’exorbitant’ price tag of Instagram, and where an intern crashed the site but was not fired.
Facebookers are also empowered to decide their own career path, and are encouraged to switch teams or functions after a year.
5. Innovation
Facebook holds Hackathons regularly, although it takes time off work and additional costs to organise. Facebook claims that its Hackathons have led to new company products/features such as the much lauded safety check.
As much as some balk at such excessiveness, Facebook has proven that the benefits outweigh the costs; based on the value it creates, the steady ascent of its stock price, and the talent it attracts. Most tech companies in the Bay area have adopted these practices for the same reasons, and hopefully companies in Asia will follow, leading to a happier and more innovative workforce.
