New York:
Of all the strategies for making workers happy, turning them into millionaires is probably the most effective.
Facebook has succeeded with the wealth strategy like few other companies, earning it the title of best employer, as determined by users of the career site Glassdoor.com.
Workers at the social networking colossus - or at least people who claimed to be - gave it the highest rating, 4.6 out of 5, based on eight criteria including work/life balance, recognition and, of course, compensation and benefits. Southwest Airlines was second on Glassdoor's annual Top 50 Best Places to Work list, followed by Bain & Company, the management consulting firm.
Many of Facebook's employees have been able to sell some of their shares to big investors or on exchanges where shares in private companies trade. Although supposedly gleeful about their employer, Facebook's early workers are not shy about quitting. Dozens of early employees have resigned and some have gone on to found their own start-ups.
Last year, Southwest Airlines led the list. Facebook did not even make the top 50.
High-profile companies that failed to make the top 50 list include Hewlett-Packard, scene of recent management turmoil and cost cutting. Netflix also had a poor showing despite its strong financial performance and a policy of allowing employees to take as much vacation as they want (perhaps working to its disadvantage is its philosophy that average performers should get a generous severance package).
Here are the top 10:
1. Facebook
2. Southwest Airlines
3. Bain & Company
4. General Mills
5. Edelman
6. Boston Consulting
7. SAS Institute
8. Slalom Consulting
9. Overstock.com
10. Susquehanna International Group