One manager said: "People stay at SAS in large part because they are happy, but to dig a little deeper, I would argue that people don’t leave SAS because they feel regarded -- seen, attended to and cared for. I have stayed for that reason, and love what I do for that reason."

Employees at Boston Consulting Group (ranked #2) are drawn by the firm’s generous pay and a commitment to social work.

Wegman's supermarket chain made it to #3 because it cares about the well-being of its workers. This year, 11,000 employees took part in a challenge to eat five cups of fruit and vegetables a day and walk up to 10,000 steps a day for eight weeks. Another 8,000 took advantage of health screenings that included a flu shot and H1N1 vaccine -- all covered by the company.

Online shoe retailer Zappos made a big leap from #15 to #6 this year. The company’s quirky, happy culture remains. Employees enjoy free lunches, no-charge vending machines, a full-time life coach on hand, and "create fun and a little weirdness" is one of the company’s core values.

The workplace and its facilities, as well as pay and benefits, are very important to employees. While many of these can come at quite an expense to the business, there are other things that don't cost quite as much.

Corporate events encourage bonding and a friendly social atmosphere also adds to the appeal of the workplace. Flexibility in working hours can help employees manage their demanding lives. Good training & development provides growth and advancement potential and enables a company to promote from within rather than hire externally.

Winning organisations define a shared set of core values and create a successful culture. This cannot be purely words on paper! One common metaphor of corporate culture is an iceberg. The top of the iceberg that sticks out above the water represents the stated mission statement, core values, corporate vision, etc. But the part of the iceberg that is below the water, and is usually much larger in size, is the way things really are within the company. Values have to be the backbone of the organisation and define its culture below the surface of the water as well.

Here is the full list of Zappo's core values:

1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More With Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble

Perhaps you can understand, with values like these, why it is a great place to work.

When you hold your employees in high regard, invest in them, and care for them, you are not foregoing bottom-line profits to please your employees. These activities promote employee confidence, encourage foundations of trust within the organisation, decrease employee turnover and elevate the corporate sense of morale. As a result, this leads to increased productivity and profitability for the company. Clearly a Win-Win situation!