According to CEO Sundar Pichai, Google’s free meals are not just about giving benefits to employees, but they serve a deeper purpose. 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 informal conversations over food. Since joining Google as a product manager in 2004, he has observed how these informal food interactions improve creativity. “Many times, I would meet someone in a café and our discussions 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 food initiative helps create a collaborative work culture. These community spaces bring together employees from different departments, creating opportunities for brainstorming and problem-solving. He points out that the long-term benefits of such interactions far outweigh the costs of providing food, seeing them as investments in innovation rather than just employee benefits.

Apart from free food, Google is known for its employee-friendly policies, which has 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 leave, and wellness programs. According to Pichai, these perks are part of the reason why nearly 90 percent of job candidates accept offers from the company.

When discussing Google’s hiring process, Pichai said that the company looks for diverse qualities depending on the position. Specifically, for engineering roles, they look for skilled software developers who can easily adapt to new challenges. According to Pichai, the goal is to find “superstar software engineers” who can thrive in Google’s dynamic environment.

However, despite its wide array of employee benefits, Google has cut some perks in recent years. In 2023, the company announced plans to cut some offerings, including reducing some office café hours and consolidating kitchen locations. Still, Pichai pointed out that Google’s benefits remain the most competitive in the industry, setting a high standard for workplaces in Silicon Valley.