Google has set the pace for creativity in the workplace, nurturing a learning and creative culture. The company allows engineers regular time away from their jobs to work on creative projects, where they can take up to 20 per cent of their work week to apply themselves to these creative projects. The most famous “20 per cent project” is Gmail.
Google also provides free meals, team excursions, and financial incentives. As well, dogs are permitted in the workplace, and they support a balance between work and personal life. Work-spaces are pleasant and relaxed, with plenty of space for collaboration.

Online shoe, clothing and accessories retailer Zappos utilizes space, physical surroundings, freedom, and management style as an overall creative environment. Recruitment is based on employees matching corporate culture. The core values of Zappos are to inspire employees every day with mantras such as “be passionate and determined.” Team building exercises and the development of a creative corporate culture are supported in the company budget.

Airbnb, the world’s largest online accommodation-sharing marketplace, offers employees a community atmosphere with a focus on allowing employees to learn from different teams, along with switching departments and roles more easily. Employees are also encouraged to look at issues with new ideas.

Website builder Squarespace implements a horizontal organizational culture by reducing management levels between manager and staff, resulting in staff being listened to and increasing staff confidence and morale. Employees receive good benefit packages, flexible vacation lengths, prepared meals, well stocked kitchens, monthly parties, regular conferences, and relaxing and pleasant work spaces.

Oil and gas company Chevron offers a health-center and physical conditioning environment. Chevron provides gym memberships, personal training programs, massages, and encourages employees to take breaks. Additional benefits include flexible vacations and monthly parties.

HubSpot, which provides inbound marketing and sales software, boasts an innovative and transparent company culture focused on employee growth. Employees are encouraged to make important decisions and they are offered opportunities for professional development.

Computer software company Adobe encourages a positive and creative corporate culture. Trust and freedom are extended to employees to do their best to achieve ambitious challenges. Micromanagement is avoided in order to give employees creative freedom. The manager becomes the coach. The company encourages autonomy and risk-taking without negative consequences.

For background on some of these companies, visit the following websites:

https://www.zapposinsights.com/about/zappos-insights-story/the-zappos-story

https://blog.cultureamp.com/how-airbnb-is-building-its-culture-through-belonging

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249174

https://www.hubspot.com/our-story

https://inside.6q.io/adobes-award-winning-company-culture/

https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/adobe-company-culture/

Additional companies can be examined, such as Apple, Facebook, Southwest Airlines, Twitter and Pixar.

Apple is a global corporation that deliberately focuses on generating and developing ideas faster than its competitors. Creativity is a major component and a mindset that challenges conventional standards and is considered one of the top five characteristics of Apple Corporate Culture. Management favors creativity among employees’ knowledge skills and abilities.

The creation of Apple Park in California was designed to maximize opportunities for creativity and collaboration. The building can accommodate 12,000 employees. The distinctive circular design, with precisely engineered curved glass panels and a circumference of about a mile, is an impressive structure.

The circle-shaped building resembles a giant spaceship and has four stories above ground and two below ground. It includes research and development facilities, office space, an auditorium (named the Steve Jobs Theater), a 100,000-square-foot fitness center, basketball courts, a café and a circular park in the center of the building.

There are 6,000 trees that include apple, olive and apricot orchards and 5.9 million square feet of landscaping, a pond, and meadows. The incorporation of outdoor space supports the ideology that spending time outside increases cognition and creative thinking.

The entire space is powered by 100 per cent renewable energy; solar panels on the roof, supplemented by harvested methane.

The open concept layout is intended to promote collaboration. There are miles of walking and running paths. In addition, there are bicycles and electric golf carts for transportation.

This structure is one of the world’s most energy efficient buildings. Steve Jobs intended Apple Park to be the home of innovation for generations to come. The design is intended to inspire creativity.