Mark's Notebook


	Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. - Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Best Bay Area Workplaces

San Jose Mercury News

Tuesday 11 January 2005, 10:37 am
Keywords: Computer Topics , News Articles

From Fortune Magazine

Nine Bay Area companies cracked Fortune magazine's list of top 100 workplaces in the nation for 2005. Here are some of the reasons, according to employees and Fortune's evaluation:

4. Genentech

After launching three new drugs from June 2003 to February 2004, it threw a lavish party for employees and guests featuring Elton John.

5. Xilinx

Inventors rule: One of every five employees holds a patent and all employees receive stock options upon hire. Last year's profit-sharing bonus was 9.2 percent of salary.

13. Adobe Systems

New twin 12-story buildings include a fitness center with trainer, a farmers market, basketball and bocce courts, and an office for nearly everyone.

24. Network Appliance

Gives employees $5,000 to $15,000 for each patent they file and stock grants for multiple patents.

27. Cisco Systems

Holds everything from "nerd lunches" in which experts lead a discussion of tech topics to movie-themed food on Oscar day.

43. Symantec

Stock up 150 percent in two years. All employees are eligible for stock options and generous profit sharing.

64. Intuit

Noticing that new call-center hires often gain weight, executives built an indoor walking path and offered to donate $1 to charities for every pound lost.

79. Granite Construction

Sets aside 3.7% of pretax earnings each year for bonuses and incentives for lower-ranking employees.

91. Morrison & Foerster

A model of diversity: 166 of its 871 U.S. attorneys are minorities, including 21 partners. Pro bono work is a draw.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/10616398.htm