10 best IT companies to work for in 2011

Information technology companies have always dominated Fortune magazine's '100 Best Companies to Work For' list for many years.

2011 too is no exception. Interestingly, global IT majors do not top the list.

Rather, the top positions are bagged by less known companies.

In this slide show, we talk about the 10 best IT companies to work for in 2011.

. . .

1. SAS

SAS Institute Inc. makes SAS, an integrated system of software products that enables programmers to perform: retrieval, management, and mining; report writing and graphics; statistical analysis business planning, forecasting, and decision support; operations research and project management; quality improvement; applications development; data warehousing (extract, transform, load); platform independent and remote computing

In addition, SAS has many business solutions that enable large-scale software solutions for areas such as IT management, human resource management, financial management, business intelligence, customer relationship management and more.
Fortune gives a number of reasons for SAS occupying the top slot.

The company has, for the second time in a row, topped the overall list (meaning the list of companies that also includes firms from other than the IT sector).

These are: high-quality child care; on-site healthcare;  free 66,000-square-foot fitness centre; car cleaning facility and beauty salon.

Some other HR practices implemented by SAS include flexible working hours, day-care benefits, concierge services and adoption assistance policy.

. . .

2. Google

Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing and advertising technologies.

Google is at No. 4 on Fortune's Best Companies to Work for list, but second best IT company to work for.

Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products.

The company is rated high for the perks it offers to its employees.

One of the most highly appreciated perk is that the company allows its employees to devote 20 per cent of their time working on ideas and projects that interest them.

This year the search titan is giving a 10 per cent salary hike to all of its 23,000 employees across the world.

. . .

3. NetApp

NetApp, Inc, formerly Network Appliance, Inc., is a proprietary computer storage and data management company headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

NetApp occupies 5th position in the overall Fortune list.

Employees at the US-headquartered company enjoy perks like free fruit on Tuesdays, free bagels and cream cheese on Fridays, and free espresso all the time.

The company which slashed 6 per cent of its workforce as part a restructuring plan in 2009, saw a little rebound last year.

In 2010, the NetApp's revenue jumped 33 per cent and the company ramped up its headcount.

Its main products are Compression, Data ONTAP, DataFort, Deduplication, FAS2000, FAS3100, FAS3200 (released in Nov. 2010), FAS6000, FAS6200 (released in Nov. 2010), File Storage Resource Manager, Flash Cache, FlexCache among others.

. . .

4. Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services.

Cisco ranks at No. 20 on the Fortune's Best companies to work for list.

Cisco has more than 70,000 employees.

Flexi working hours, telecommuting, parenting and work opportunities are some of the things that make the company employee-friendly.

In fact, according to the report, 85 per cent of Cisco employees regularly work from home or on the road.

. . .

5. Qualcomm

Founded in 1985, Qualcomm is a wireless technology and data solutions company based in San Diego, California.

The company designs, manufactures and markets digital wireless telecommunications products and services based on its code division multiple access technology and other technologies.

The company ranks 33 on the overall Frotune list.

The company operates through four segments: Qualcomm CDMA Technologies; Qualcomm Technology Licensing; Qualcomm Wireless & Internet and Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives.

According to Fortune, 'the company imported a New York City chef to oversee its cafes, which feature fresh foods sourced from local farmers and no canned foods.

'The company also has a Vacation Donation Programme which allows employees to donate vacation time in order to assist other employees facing catastrophic circumstances.

The company has wide range of benefits package for employees providing security and life-enhancing programmes.

. . .

6. Shared Technologies

Founded in 1977, Texas-based Shared Technologies is solutions provider specialising in voice, data and converged technologies.

The company fell to no. 43 from its 33rd position last year in the overall list.

Last year, Arrow Electronics Inc bought Shared Technologies Inc.

However, the Shared Technologies' CEO promised that the company's 'culture will remain intact, as will its perks like a subsidised 12-week personal financial-planning course for employees and their spouses.'

. . .

7. Intel

Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

It is also the world's largest semiconductor chip maker.

The company is ranked 51 in this year's Fortune survey.

According to Fortune, Intel will create thousands of jobs in the next three years from more than $6 billion in new projects, including a fabrication plant in Oregon.

What makes Intel an employer of choice is its personalised health programme, 8 per cent of Intel employees telecommute on regular or temporary basis, childcare programmes and employee training and development programmes.

. .

8. Salesforce.com

Salesforce.com is an enterprise cloud computing company headquartered in San Francisco that distributes business software on a subscription basis.

Salesforce.com ranks 52 in the general list.

Salesforce.com hosts the applications off-site.

The company's top performers are rewarded with a four-day trip to a swanky Hawaiian resort.

. . .

9. Adobe Systems

Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California.

As of 2010, Adobe Systems has 9,117 employees.

Adobe Systems ranks 65 in the overall Fortune list.

Adobe offers employees up to six weeks of paid sabbatical based on their tenure. Company also offers same-sex domestic partner benefits.

According to Fortune, it is one of the biggest donors in Silicon Valley: Employee donations are matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000.

. . .

10. Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington.

It develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions.

Microsoft ranks 72 in the Fortune Best Companies To Work For in 2011 list.

Microsoft managers get 'morale budgets' to stage fun events (team dinners, outings to sports events or plays) for the team.

The company also offers Wi-Fi-enabled shuttle service and valet parking at some of its offices.