A Bengaluru-based cab driver's experience at Google's Ananta office has caught the internet's attention after he revealed why he "loves" coming to the office. The experience was shared by Bengaluru-based writer and coach Tanya Mathur Bhattacharya in a LinkedIn post titled, "Want to Understand a Company's Culture? Ask the Driver."
In the post, Tanya shared that her host at Google had arranged a cab for her pickup and drop and that she had told the driver, Sharath, that she would be done by 11:30 am. However, she ended up staying longer at the office after attending a masterclass and having lunch with her host.
When she eventually returned to the cab after 12:30 pm, she apologised to Sharath for keeping him waiting. His response surprised her.
"Madam, thank you for taking more time. I love coming to Google," the driver told her.
When Tanya asked why, Sharath explained that cab drivers have basement parking at the Google office and are offered tea, coffee and snacks, along with three buffet meals. "The food is very good. I had breakfast here only. And I got time for early lunch also because of you," Sharath said.
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{{/usCountry}}According to the post, the driver also highlighted Google's approach to food. He said that drivers are told not to waste food and to take only as much as they can eat, but they can return for more as many times as they want. "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," the driver told Tanya.
Sharath also told her that some companies provide drivers with a meal allowance to buy food outside. "But Google is the best. Here we feel like guests," he added.
Tanya said that the driver's comment made her reflect on how workplace culture is experienced by people who may not even be employees of an organisation.
"When I walk into the plush, air-conditioned office of any organisation, it is easy for me to notice the finer things. The beautiful spaces. The generous spread. The thoughtful details. But the true measure of an organisation's culture is what someone experiences in its basement parking lot," she wrote.
"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.
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Social media reactions
The post resonated with many online.
Reacting to the post, one user wrote, "This is such a powerful reminder that culture is felt far beyond the people who are officially part of an organisation. The smallest interactions often reveal the biggest values. How a company treats the people who don't "need" to be impressed says a lot about what it truly stands for."
"Culture isn't the same thing as etiquette. A team can follow every rule of professional decorum - the right greetings, the right tone in emails, the right conduct in meetings - and still lack a genuine culture. Real organizational culture is built on humility, empathy, and balance, not on polish or performance. It's less about how people appear and more about how they actually treat each other when no one's watching. There are many companies who do this too," commented another.
"Loved reading this, Tanya. Nothing showcases a brand's culture more than how they treat anyone interacting with their brand in any way, whether they're internal employees or associates. Sadly, most brands do not realise the importance of this, and it's lovely to read about one that does," wrote a third user.