50 Best Small and Medium-Size Companies to Work For

1. Professional Placement Resources

SMALL COMPANY*

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

Employees: 80

Revenue: N.A.

The pet-friendly staffing agency places nurses in temp jobs in all 50 states -- and provides private housing and travel reimbursement.

*Between 25 and 249 employees

2. Talent Plus

SMALL COMPANY

Lincoln, Neb.

Employees: 116

Revenue: N.A.

Rather than performance reviews, employees of this global HR consulting firm have career investment discussions with managers.

3. Ruby Receptionists

SMALL COMPANY

Portland, Ore.

Employees: 95

Revenue: $7.8 million

The quirky virtual agency provides reception services to small businesses. A five-year milestone is rewarded with a five-week paid sabbatical.

4. Granite Properties

SMALL COMPANY

Plano, Texas

Employees: 143

Revenue: $153.3 million

New hires at this commercial real estate manager are paired with a tenured field buddy, who gives them tours of the company's properties.

5. ENGEO

SMALL COMPANY

San Ramon, Calif.

Employees: 134

Revenue: N.A.

The "dream manager" at this engineering consultant helps colleagues plan personal and professional goals, from home buying to careers.

6. Badger Mining

SMALL COMPANY

Berlin, Wis.

Employees: 220

Revenue: N.A.

There are few titles and there is no corporate ladder at this family-owned sand extractor, where profit-sharing bonuses are handed out every quarter.

7. Studer Group

SMALL COMPANY

Gulf Breeze, Fla.

Employees: 196

Revenue: $60.2 million

The founder of this health care consultancy sends gift cards to recognize birthdays: Employees receive $75, and their kids (under 18) get $25.

8. SnagAJob.com

SMALL COMPANY

Glen Allen, Va.

Employees: 185

Revenue: N.A.

The online employment site rewards tenure with vacation packages on big anniversaries. Ten years are celebrated with a week in the Bahamas.

9. Dixon Schwabl

SMALL COMPANY

Victor, N.Y.

Employees: 77

Revenue: $29.3 million

Not one but two house bands rock the headquarters of this advertising, marketing, and public relations agency near Rochester.

10. Putney

SMALL COMPANY

Portland, Maine

Employees: 57

Revenue: $19.2 million

All employees of this maker of generic prescription drugs for pets are urged to volunteer with local nonprofit charities on company time.

11. The Clymb

SMALL COMPANY

Portland, Ore.

Employees: 104

Revenue: N.A.

Staffers at this outdoor retailer take wellness to another level: They interrupt their work to do group planks at least once a day -- or more.

12. City of Rancho Cordova

SMALL COMPANY

Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Employees: 65

Revenue: $71.9 million

The municipal government of this Sacramento suburb eliminates bureaucratic red tape by allowing staff to make many decisions.

13. Radio Flyer

SMALL COMPANY

Chicago

Employees: 60

Revenue: $85 million

The 96-year-old little-red-wagon company is still a family-owned business, currently led by the third generation of the Pasin family.

14. Blach Construction

SMALL COMPANY

Santa Clara , Calif.

Employees: 169

Revenue: $125 million

Field supervisors at this commercial builder give gift cards for smart decisions. Job excellence is celebrated at lunch with senior managers.

15. Insomniac Games

SMALL COMPANY

Burbank, Calif.

Employees: 183

Revenue: N.A.

Software designers at this independent videogame maker get unlimited paid days to attend developer conferences and entertainment expos.

16. AnswerLab

SMALL COMPANY

San Francisco

Employees: 36

Revenue: $7.9 million

Staff meetings at this web research firm begin with yoga or stretching and end with outdoor exercises; smaller meetings are walk-and-talks.

17. Kahler Slater

SMALL COMPANY

Milwaukee

Employees: 90

Revenue: $15.8 million

The design firm boasts two CEOs, who host monthly breakfast gatherings for staff to share coffee and watch a specially chosen TED talk.

18. Sage Rutty

SMALL COMPANY

Rochester

Employees: 54

Revenue: $10.5 million

The 98-year-old financial services firm has a small-town feel: Each fall it hosts a chili cook-off to benefit breast cancer research.

19. Atlassian

SMALL COMPANY

San Francisco

Employees: 232

Revenue: N.A.

All new hires of this enterprise-software developer are given a travel voucher to take their families on vacation before beginning the new job.

20. Decision Lens

SMALL COMPANY

Arlington, Va.

Employees: 63

Revenue: $8.5 million

This software designer takes staff on unusual trips to see how other teams work -- including a visit to the U.S.S. Eisenhower aircraft carrier.

21. AgileThought

SMALL COMPANY

Tampa

Employees: 90

Revenue: $16.8 million

Staff of this software maker who travel for work extensively have had their families flown to meet them -- all on the company's dime.

22. Integrated Project Management

SMALL COMPANY

Burr Ridge, Ill.

Employees: 108

Revenue: $22.1 million

The consulting firm covers 100% of health care premiums for employees and dependents. Bonuses of $5,000 are paid for hiring referrals.

23. Alvarado Street Bakery

SMALL COMPANY

Petaluma, Calif.

Employees: 121

Revenue: $28 million

This organic bakery, founded in 1977 as a small hippie baker in the Bay Area, invites staff to become part owners and offers profit sharing.

24. Daxko

SMALL COMPANY

Birmingham, Ala.

Employees: 241

Revenue: $21.2 million

Three times a year employees at this software maker for nonprofits take a two-week break to form new teams and develop ideas.

25. Globoforce

SMALL COMPANY

Southborough, Mass.

Employees: 93

Revenue: N.A.

Eric Mosley, CEO of this HR consulting firm, discusses its recognition programs in his new book, The Crowdsourced Performance Review.

1. Acuity

MEDIUM COMPANY*

Sheboygan, Wis.

Employees: 956

Revenue: $982.9 million

The regional insurer has no cap on tuition reimbursement for job-related classes. Staff can vie for one of 130 plots in an onsite community garden.

*Between 250 and 999 employees

2. Intuitive Research & Technology

MEDIUM COMPANY

Huntsville, Ala.

Employees: 266

Revenue: $187.4 million

Military-contract consultant takes job applicants to meet the client during the interview process, since most employees work on location.

3. Riot Games

MEDIUM COMPANY

Santa Monica

Employees: 846

Revenue: N.A.

Videogame developer hosts quarterly Thunderdome hackathons that allow Rioters to test out pet projects on gamer colleagues.

4. Return Path

MEDIUM COMPANY

New York City

Employees: 300

Revenue: $58 million

In addition to stretch bonuses for taking on extra responsibilities, this email software developer awards annual stock option grants.

5. Pinnacle Financial Partners

MEDIUM COMPANY

Nashville

Employees: 764

Revenue: $206.2 million

All employees are invited to join a book club, which meets a few times a year to discuss business books -- often at the home of the CEO.

6. Assurance Agency

MEDIUM COMPANY

Schaumburg, Ill.

Employees: 297

Revenue: $59.4 million

Last year staff of this insurance broker were invited to run a 5K. Everyone completed it and earned a 2% salary bonus and $600 in cash.

7. EKS&H

MEDIUM COMPANY

Denver

Employees: 430

Revenue: $63.5 million

Accounting firm offers an 11-month year to full-time employees, who may trade pay for additional time off, separate from paid vacation.

8. CustomInk

MEDIUM COMPANY

Tysons Corner, Va.

Employees: 650

Revenue: $113 million

Free food is the culture at this online custom T-shirt designer, which provides two meals to the staff each week, in addition to snacks.

9. Clif Bar

MEDIUM COMPANY

Emeryville, Calif.

Employees: 340

Revenue: N.A.

The maker of energy bars and organic foods holds to its sustainability mission with a $6,500 incentive for purchasing hybrid or eco-friendly cars.

10. Holder Construction

MEDIUM COMPANY

Atlanta

Employees: 553

Revenue: $1.1 billion

Associates who move for out-of-town projects are offered a variety of relocation benefits to make the transition easier for their families.

11. Cirrus Logic

MEDIUM COMPANY

Austin

Employees: 665

Revenue: $426 million

Music is in the heart of this maker of audio gear and tech products: Employees get VIP treatment and tickets to the South by Southwest festival.

12. Eileen Fisher

MEDIUM COMPANY

Irvington, N.Y.

Employees: 985

Revenue: $368 million

Everyone gets the same percentage salary increase at this retailer instead of raises tied to performance. Profit sharing is also divided evenly.

13. Hagerty

MEDIUM COMPANY

Traverse City, Mich.

Employees: 534

Revenue: N.A.

The world's biggest insurer of classic cars and boats allows employees to collect points for outstanding work and redeem them for gift cards.

14. ESL Federal Credit Union

MEDIUM COMPANY

Rochester

Employees: 649

Revenue: $165.5 million

The CEO of this credit union, started by Kodak founder George Eastman in 1920, goes on "road shows" to pay personal visits to staff.

15. 4imprint

MEDIUM COMPANY

Oshkosh, Wis.

Employees: 522

Revenue: $256.5 million

The maker of promotional products has no offices and a laid-back culture -- even the president wears a white T-shirt and blue jeans to work.

16. Walker & Dunlop

MEDIUM COMPANY

Bethesda, Md.

Employees: 450

Revenue: $256.7 million

Last year 27 employees at this financier of commercial real estate projects received $2,000 each for reaching three years of service.

17. Infusionsoft

MEDIUM COMPANY

Chandler, Ariz.

Employees: 398

Revenue: $39 million

Once a month employees at this maker of sales and marketing software are given a catered lunch and released from work at 2:30 p.m.

18. ZocDoc

MEDIUM COMPANY

New York City

Employees: 450

Revenue: N.A.

The headquarters of this medical tech company has an office rec room, replete with arcade games, Ping-Pong tables, and a hammock.

19. Lincoln Industries

MEDIUM COMPANY

Lincoln, Neb.

Employees: 525

Revenue: $120.4 million

This metal finisher encourages employees to get outside the factory. This year more than 200 took a free mountain-climbing trip to Colorado.

20. West Monroe Partners

MEDIUM COMPANY

Chicago

Employees: 373

Revenue: $65.4 million

Employees at this tech consultant come up with their own titles. Not surprisingly the position of chief beer brewer has already been taken.

21. Capco

MEDIUM COMPANY

New York City

Employees: 563

Revenue: $93.7 million

The financial consultant insists that everyone take a two-week vacation each year -- $1,000 bonuses are given for taking 10 consecutive workdays.

22. LeasePlan USA

MEDIUM COMPANY

Alpharetta, Ga.

Employees: 489

Revenue: N.A.

A Fun at Work committee at this fleet manager plans special events such as goofy golf, Ping-Pong tournaments, and turkey bowling.

23. Etsy

MEDIUM COMPANY

Brooklyn

Employees: 450

Revenue: N.A.

The online marketplace for handmade artisanal goods is a beehive of hipster activity and creative expression. (See full story.)

24. DELTA Resources

MEDIUM COMPANY

Alexandria, Va.

Employees: 275

Revenue: $43.1 million

The defense contractor allows unused time off to be paid out as a lump sum at the end of the year -- unusual in any industry.

25. dunnhumbyUSA

MEDIUM COMPANY

Cincinnati

Employees: 715

Revenue: $300 million

The U.S. subsidiary of the London-based consumer research firm conducts twice-yearly Innovation Fridays to improve workplace practices.