Best Companies to Work For 2009

Courtesy: NetApp

1. NetApp

Previous Rank: 14

What Makes It So Great: How’s this for an unlikely success story: Dave Hitz works as a cowboy, then sells his blood to help pay for Princeton (where he rooms with Jeff Bezos), gets into computers, and in 1992 teams up with James Lau and Michael Malcolm to form a data storage and management company called Network Appliance. Under longtime CEO Dan Warmenhoven, NetApp has survived the dot-com crash, grown at two to three times the storage industry average for four years, and in 2008 hit $3.3 billion in sales.

But it is employee enthusiasm for the legendary egalitarian culture that catapulted NetApp to No. 1 after six years on our list. Says one employee: It feels like "a small startup company instead of a 7,000-plus corporation." Typical of its down-to-earth management ethos, NetApp early on ditched a travel policy a dozen pages long in favor of this maxim: "We are a frugal company. But don’t show up dog-tired to save a few bucks. Use your common sense." Rather than business plans, many units write "future histories," imagining where their business will be a year or two out.

And the benefits are tops: five paid days for volunteer work, $11,390 adoption aid, and autism coverage — used by 43 employees since 2006 at a cost of $242,452. The company has gained market share during the slump, hasn’t had layoffs, and has more than $2 billion in cash on hand to help it ride out the global financial crisis.

Headquarters: 495 East Java Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94089

2007 Revenue ($ Millions): 3,303

Website

Courtesy: Edward Jones

2. Edward Jones

Previous Rank: 4

What Makes It So Great: The stock market collapse reduced partner distributions and bonuses, but Jim Weddle, who heads the brokerage, assured associates the firm had no exposure to high-risk mortgages or financial derivatives and no plans for layoffs. Jones hired 698 new financial advisors in the first ten months of 2008 and is building an addition to its St. Louis headquarters for 500 new employees.

Headquarters: 12555 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63131

2007 Revenue ($ Millions): 4,147

Website

3. Boston Consulting Group

Previous Rank: 11

What Makes It So Great: Management consultant has increased recruitment of minorities (25% of staff, up from 19% in 2004). Offers first-class health insurance: $5 co-pay for doctor visits, 100% fertility treatment coverage.

Headquarters: 53 State Street
Boston, MA 2109

2007 Revenue ($ Millions): 2,300

Website

Courtesy: Google

4. Google

Previous Rank: 1

What Makes It So Great: Tech powerhouse marked tenth birthday in 2008. While the company still attracts 777,000 applicants a year, hiring has slowed, and Google recently cut frills like afternoon tea and an annual ski trip.

Headquarters: 1600 Ampitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043

2007 Revenue ($ Millions): 16,594

Website

Courtesy: Wegmans Food Markets

5. Wegmans Food Markets

Previous Rank: 3

What Makes It So Great: Recent offerings at this family-owned supermarket chain: Employees could buy gift cards of up to $250 at a 10% discount to help with food costs; Wegmans is also rolling out free yoga classes at each of its stores.

Headquarters: 1500 Brooks Avenue
Rochester, NY 14603

2007 Revenue ($ Millions): 4,511

Website

Next: #6-10 Best Companies to Work For

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