Mark's Notebook


	I never came upon any of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking. - Albert Einstein

Cool places to work

San Jose Mercury News

Tuesday 11 January 2005, 10:34 am
Keywords: Computer Topics , News Articles

By Nicole C. Wong

Despite the economic downturn, Silicon Valley is apparently still not such a bad place to work -- if you know where to go.

Nine Bay Area companies secured spots on Fortune's 2005 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For for everything from weekly on-site farmers markets to stock options for all new hires. Two companies cracked the top 10 -- Genentech came in No. 4, and Xilinx ranked No. 5.

Fortune magazine evaluated 356 companies across the country based on their culture and policies, relying heavily on the opinions of 350 randomly surveyed employees at each company.

Silicon Valley companies have fairly consistently made the list, even in recent years of heavy layoffs and general malaise. But it's not always the same companies.

Intuit of Mountain View encourages physical fitness by donating $1 to charities for each pound an employee sheds. The software company also makes it easier for employees to take care of their teeth by sending roving dental mobiles to its larger campuses.

Adobe Systems allows employees to use its 24-hour campus fitness center, which was expanded last January to include an aerobics studio and treadmills with TVs.

Cisco Systems distinguished itself with its affectionately named "nerd lunches," which attract up to 200 engineers who want to dish about tech topics as they eat.

Xilinx, which is practically a fixture on the list after making it for several years running, gives all employees stock options when they're hired.

"Being filthy rich would be nice, but being professionally fulfilled is what drew me here."

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/10616392.htm