Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

In a recent invitation from Google (GOOG), 100 members of the press and analysts were invited to have an inside look at the company.

One particular writer came away with some very challenging questions that I think we as managers really do need to look at.

When they were allowed to observe the day, what they were introduced to was what was described as "more like kids throwing a party on a weekend when their parents have gone away. Should we really trust these people with our economic futures...?"

These comments are also very telling:

"I'm not saying it's a bad idea for a company to give employees a fun place to work, and technology companies, especially in Silicon Valley, are known for providing a lot of perks -- like free meals and on-site exercise activities -- because employees log long hours. I'm sure Google employees spend a hefty portion of each day at the Googleplex, as the company appears more to be a lifestyle for employees than just a job.

"But how long will the fun and games continue at a company being targeted by the fiercest competitor in the industry? Since Google didn't spill all of its secrets to journalists this week, there's a good chance company executives know exactly what they are up against in Microsoft, and have a strategic plan for longevity. Until we know for sure, though, I recommend you get your free lunch at Google while you can."

There is a legitimate issue here that has to truly be wrestled with: How far can we go in making our workplace worker-friendly?

Anybody reading managersrealm.com knows that we advocate a great workplace experience for employees. To care about them as much as anything in the company is paramount to long-term success. But there seems to be real issues here that we can learn from.

This does seem to be a bomb waiting to go off. Has Google gone so far that it will now be difficult to reign in the party? How will workers respond that have been given such free reign that it seems Google isn't able to bring out products or services that are ready; they seem to be all in beta now.

Another issue is that they are a public company. What about their obligation to shareholders and those counting on them as part of their investment portfolio or 401(k) plan? Would they all be doing this every day if tons of shareholders were observing their behavior?

This isn't an easy issue to look at for me because I tend to want to go more with a innovative, fun and creative place to work. There just seems to be something here that has gone too far to the other side. Do you get the same feeling, or do you think everything is just going on like it should?