Unless you’re reading this from Google. In which case, welcome. You lucky SOB.

It’s no secret that careers at Google are the most sought after in the tech industry. And that’s not all that surprising, given, “the array of benefits of perks aim to ensure that Googlers remain happy and healthy in all aspects of their lives.”

In no particular order, we present the top ten Google employee perks.

1) Free Gear – Top Secret Gear

Google employees are free to use the company hardware to get work done. Sounds ordinary, until you consider that employees have free rein over unreleased, in-development products. Basically, we’re telling you that those (insert expletive here) people have been using Chromebook Pixels for over six months, and you and I are limited to fantasising about it for a good while longer.

2) Free Food – Gourmet Food

Employees get free breakfast, lunch and dinner. And snacks. And that stuff is good.

3) The Googlebus

Googlers at the Mountain View campus get a free ride to and from work, everyday. So, if you live anywhere in the San Fransisco Bay area, you take the bus to work.

4) Pet Time At The Desk

Google Employees are allowed to take their pets to work with them. Hell, pets are even allowed to attend meetings, provided they’ve had their special moment out on the grass beforehand.

5) Onsite Massage Parlour

Employees can give each other actual credits for a job well done. After enough of the credits have accrued, employees cash them in for a free one hour massage at the onsite massage parlour.

6) Phuza Fridays

Every Friday, Google employees get their drink on, for free.

7) Both Parents Get Maternity/Paternity Leave

That’s right. If your eggo is preggo, both mom and dad get time off to look after the spawn. Fathers at Google receive up to six weeks of paid leave after the birth of their child, while mothers receive up to 18 weeks. While on their leave, an employee’s shares continue to vest, and they receive bonuses while on leave too.

Google also gives employees a bonus called, “baby bonding bucks”, to help with diapers and formula during their leave. When the moms return to work there are free day-care facilities on the premises. Pets in meetings, babies not so much.

8) Death benefits:

After a Google employee passes away, their stock vests immediately, and on top of the life insurance payout, their surviving spouse continues to get half of the Googler’s salary for the next 10 years. And there’s an additional $1 000 (about R9 000) benefit for any of the Googler’s children, every month.

9) The Concierge Service

Oh, you didn’t know that? Google employees are provided with a free concierge service to run errands for them. Concierge services include but are not limited to:

• Oil changes
• Dry-cleaning and alterations
• Car wash
• DVD rental
• ATMs and credit union services
• Bike repairs
• Haircuts
• Laundry (Mountain View office)

[Source: Business Insider]