1. The quality of the people they work with
"That's why hiring is so important," he said. Google sets a high standard for everyone it hires. Whether you're applying for an administrative assistant position or that of senior engineer, every candidate is screened by their potential boss, potential colleagues, a hiring committee, and finally Google CEO Larry Page.
2. The feeling that the work they do is meaningful
"People want to do more than just make a buck," Bock said. "People want to do something that means something." Plus, giving employees a sense of purpose has benefits beyond retention. He cited research by Wharton professor Adam Grant that found when people are able to connect their jobs to something meaningful, their productivity increases as much as five times.
Interestingly, the lavish perks that Google is known for — free gourmet meals, in-house massages, and dry cleaning on campus — are nice-to-haves but ultimately not game-changers.
"The dirty secret of all these perks is it doesn't actually retain people or even attract people," Bock said. While the perks may provide efficiency, community, and an inviting atmosphere, he believes they ultimately won't swing people who are thinking about leaving.