"Everything was up at Google last year -- revenue, profits, share price, paid search clicks, hiring -- and so, too, was employee love- the search giant climbed three slots in our ranking to reclaim the top spot. The reason? Employees rave about their mission, the culture, and the famous perks of the Plex: bocce courts, a bowling alley, eyebrow shaping (for a fee) in the New York office. Then there's the food: some 25 cafés companywide, all gratis. Wrote one Googler: "Employees are never more than 150 feet away from a well-stocked pantry.""

"A perennial of the top five of our list, the global consultancy invests 100-plus hours and thousands of dollars to recruit each consultant- once hired, they earn an average of $139,000 a year."

"Subsidized Montessori child care, unlimited sick time, intramural sports leagues, and a free health care center are just some of the perks at the software company's lushly landscaped campus."

"The family-owned grocery chain has made employee health a religion: More than 2,000 workers have enrolled in a free smoking-cessation program since 2009- this year it opened a new 24/7 health hotline."

"With some 11,000 offices across the country, the investment firm escaped the recession with nary a layoff. Says managing partner Jim Weddle: "It's a great time not to be a bank -- or to be owned by one.""

"The data storage firm's pay-for-performance program triggered huge bonuses last year when revenues shot up from $3.9 billion to $5 billion. Employees received payouts of up to 31% of their salary."

"This apartment-management firm, which manages properties that house 100,000 people in 13 states, is generous with employees -- last year it doled out surprise bonuses, from $100 to $5,000."

"The adventure-gear ­retailer scaled new heights last year with its first Manhattan store. Outdoor-loving employees take advantage of sabbaticals, free equipment rentals, and hefty discounts on merchandise."

"The staffing agency routinely acts on suggestions made by employees. This year it revamped its drug plan, built a gym at its Fort Lauderdale office, and made Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a paid holiday."

"Employees of the online mortgage lender take immense pride in its move from the suburbs to downtown Detroit: "We're taking [the city] from its lowest point and bringing it back to the spotlight it deserves.""