The best news for businesses large and small is that to be a Best Place to Work doesn’t necessarily require a huge financial investment. Camaraderie, family, and work-life balance are the words most often used to describe the atmosphere of the top-ranked companies. Creating that type of environment can be as simple as management acknowledging special achievements with a handwritten note, preparing an internal newsletter, or sponsoring a company sports team. Flexibility was another oft-used word. One of the most valued perks in the traffic-jammed Valley is the option to telecommute. Many of the companies stressed their support of employees working from a remote location when possible. In addition to cell phones, laptops, PDAs and high-speed Internet connections are often provided. Support of family was also high on the list. On-site or subsidized childcare, flex-schedules to accommodate soccer games or recitals, and support for caregivers of ill loved ones were among the benefits cited. There’s a real push to helping employees stay healthy and get fit. Some companies pay 100 percent of the employee’s health insurance, others add dental, vision, and mental health; some treat domestic- or same-sex partners as equal to legal spouses. Many do not require an employee to work full-time to be eligible for health benefits. Employees also appreciated having options like savings accounts, 125 plans, HMOs and PPOs. On-site workout facilities were not the norm, but many companies will subsidize employee fitness by paying portions of health club membership fees. Personal growth is supported through tuition reimbursement, advancement training and coaching, and promotion opportunities. When longevity is rewarded, loyalty ensues. Many companies celebrate employment anniversaries and milestones in some way whether through a balloon bouquet or additional vacation time. Fair wages are expected; the Best Places to Work set the bar much higher in compensating their employees. Most companies had a pension or 401(k) plan and many encourage participation by matching employee contributions to some extent. Profit-sharing takes a wide variety of forms but the most widely-used compensation tool is the performance-based bonus. Some companies even offer quarterly or on-the-spot awards just to mix things up. Food is apparently a great motivator as well. Break rooms across the Valley are well-stocks with beverages and snacks. Company lunches, picnics, and holiday parties abound. Businesses that have periods of heavy activity, such as accounting and law firms, often provide free meals for employees working late hours. It’s not all take, take, take, at the Best Places to Work. It feels good when you have the opportunity to give something back to the community and that good feeling reverberates throughout the workplace when corporations support volunteerism and civic participation among their staff. This can take many forms: offering paid time to perform jury service, sponsoring food or clothing drives, and compensating employees for time spent volunteering at their favorite charity. In this special report discussing the Business Journal’s search for the Best Places to Work in the greater-Valley area, reporters looked deeper into how and why companies provide perks to keep employees happy; what some of the intangible things are that businesses do to promote a positive work environment; and the hard facts about the bottom line benefits of being a Best Place to Work.