Fortune says Google is the best company to work for in the US
Employees chat at Google’s new offices in Paris, France, on Dec. 6, 2011.
Google Inc. has nabbed the No. 1 spot on Fortune’s 2012 “100 Best Companies to Work For in the US” list. Last year, the technology company was ranked No. 4, according to PC Magazine.
Google’s perks wowed Fortune. “Employees rave about their mission, the culture, and the famous perks of the Plex: boccee courts, a bowling alley, eyebrow shaping (for a fee) in the New York office,” Fortune’s listmakers wrote. “Then there's the food: some 25 cafes companywide, all gratis."
"People want to feel part of a family, even when they're at work," Google CEO Larry Page said about topping the list at the company’s quarterly earnings call yesterday, PC Magazine reported. "We've taken the No. 1 spot three times now, more than every other company. I want to thank everyone at Google for all their hard work, which has made this possible."
The other companies rounding out the top five: Global consultancy Boston Consulting Group, business analytics company SAS Institute, fancy grocery chain Wegmans Food Markets and financial services firm Edward Jones.
Boston Consulting Group, where the average annual salary is $139,000, won points for big pay. SAS Institute in Cary, NC – last year’s top company – impressed Fortune researchers with its subsidized Montessori childcare, unlimited sick time, intramural sports leagues and free healthcare center. Rochester, NY-based Wegmans got top marks for its healthy employee programs, including a new 24/7 health hotline. And Fortune liked that St. Louis, Mo.-based Edward Jones didn’t lay off any employees throughout the recession.
One corporate trend the list highlights, CNN Money reported, is the growing popularity of policies that support gay employees. For the first time, all companies on the list have non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation. Also, 89 companies on the list offer benefits for same-sex domestic partners, up from 70 companies five years ago, CNN Money reported.
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