Best Companies to Work for in 2013

By Stephanie Wharton

For sixteen years now, Fortune and The Great Place to Work Institute have conducted an extensive survey to discover the 100 best companies to work for that year. Each company’s score is based on the answers to questions regarding “management’s capability, job satisfaction, and camaraderie” as well as the details of pay and benefit programs, which includes “hiring processes, methods of internal communication, training, recognition programs, and diversity efforts.”

Here are the Top Ten for 2013 - the link for each company takes you to a blurb on why it’s in the top ten:

Google: Top company for the 4^th year in a row
SAS: Provides clients high-performance analytics, has been on this Fortune list for 14 years in a row, #1 in 2010 and 2011
CHG Healthcare Services: Added two on-site health centers this year
The Boston Consulting Group, Inc.: Notifies employees they have worked too many long weeks with a “red flag report”
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.: Employees reward each other with gift cards for good service
NetApp: Vice-Chairman calls 10-20 employees every day to thank them
Hilcorp Energy Company: First time on the list
Edward Jones: Provides a unified culture for employees with regular recreational activities
Ultimate Software: Covers healthcare premiums for employees and dependents
Camden Property Trust: Founders known to create a humorous culture

Only companies that have 1,000 employees or more and are five years old are eligible for this list. These companies each have a unique way of taking care of their employees and creating a fun, engaging place to work. What sets your company apart? What creative idea can you implement to let your employees know they are valued? It doesn’t have to be a financial perk. I love that the Vice-Chairman of NetApp takes the time to call employees every day just to say “thank you.” Look at your company culture and find ways to make work fun, be creative, and take care of your team members.