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What stays: Free food
What stays: Free food
Google takes its grub seriously, and the menu at its gourmet cafeteria is the stuff of legend in Silicon Valley and beyond. Executives there view the company's communal eatery as a way to foster innovation and collaboration. By getting everyone into one place at lunch - even people who don't typically work together - the company benefits. And obviously free dinner encourages longer work hours.

Still, on a recent visit to Google for an evening event, every single Googler heading for the parking lot was carrying takeout, which the cafeteria offers with every meal. Presumably they were doing what normal people do: heading home to eat with friends or family.

NEXT: What stays: Concierge services
Last updated January 22 2009: 1:37 PM ET
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