Bengaluru cab driver reveals why duty at Google office feels like being a 'guest'

A cab driver's unexpected praise for Google's Bengaluru office left a woman impressed after she asked him why he enjoyed waiting there during her work visit.Bengaluru cab driver reveals why duty at Google office feels like being a ‘guest’ (Representative pic from Pexels) A Bengaluru-based professional’s conversation with a cab driver at Google’s new Ananta office has highlighted how a company’s culture can extend beyond its employees and plush workspaces.In a post on LinkedIn, Tanya Mathur Bhattacharya shared the story after visiting Google’s new office in Bengaluru for a masterclass for app development leaders from different countries.Tanya’s host had arranged a cab for her pick-up and drop and she had initially told the driver, Sharath, that she would be done by 11:30 am. However, she arrived early, had coffee, conducted the masterclass and stayed back for lunch with her host, eventually returning to the car after 12:30 pm.As she got in, Tanya apologised to Sharath for making him wait longer than expected and thanked him for his patience. Instead of complaining about the delay, Sharath smiled and told her, “Madam, thank you for taking more time. I love coming to Google.”Curious about his response, Tanya asked him why he liked coming to the office. Sharath told her that cabs had dedicated basement parking at Google and drivers were provided tea, coffee and snacks, along with three buffet meals. He said the food was good and that he had already had breakfast there and got the opportunity to have an early lunch because Tanya had taken longer than expected.He also pointed out what he considered an important difference in the way food was served.“They tell us, don’t waste food. Take only as much as you can eat. But you can go back and take more food, as many times as you want,” he said.Sharath told Tanya that some companies instead provide drivers with a meal allowance, which they can use to buy food outside. Comparing those experiences with Google, he said, “But Google is the best. Here we feel like guests.”It was that line that stayed with Tanya.Reflecting on the interaction, she wrote that visitors often notice the visible aspects of a company’s culture, such as its beautiful spaces, food and other amenities. But she argued that the real measure of an organisation’s culture could be found in the experience of people who work around it but are not employees.“Does the driver have a comfortable place to wait? Can he get a cup of tea? Can he eat the same good food without feeling like he needs to count how much he takes,” she asked.Read the entire post here:Tanya said the question that mattered most was whether someone who was not on the company’s payroll could still leave feeling like a guest.“We talk so much about culture. I think culture isn’t just what you put on the walls. It’s experienced in how you treat the people who may never walk through your office doors,” she concluded.- EndsPublished On: Aug 28, 2026 15:03 IST