Ex-Google Employee Reveals How Free Perks In The Office Tricks Workers Into Actually Working More, Lists Examples From His Job

The last couple of years have really changed how we appreciate being in the office. While the majority of workers (72%) now prefer the hybrid workplace model, with another 13% saying they would completely ditch their office altogether, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed — the free perks that offices grant their workers.

Say what you will but getting delicious meals, caffè macchiatos and unlimited access to a gym for free as part of the package really softens the blow when thinking about that 2-hour commute to and from work. But what if someone told you that these ‘free’ perks aren’t so free after all?

When ex-Google employee Ken Waks shared his two cents on the free perks of one of the finest offices in the world, the Googleplex, which comes with its own basketball court, sleeping pods, 3-course meal deal and other free stuff that can easily woo any mortal’s brainy head — it reached the hearts and minds of 6.4 million TikTok users. Sure, it’s a lot to take in. Nevertheless, his reasoning that all these free office perks are just fancy smoke and mirrors placed there to keep us working longer hours — does make some sense, after all.

Scroll down to see why your free caffè macchiato may not be as free as you think, and let us know what you think in the comments. And if, Dear Pandas, you’re in the mood for more office culture reading — check out this and this, too!