Editor's Note : Why do They Love Going to Work?

To me, this is one of the most exciting issues we publish all year. It takes a good look at the crème de la crème of places to work in book publishing on our annual list of "Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For" (page 10). The list recognizes those companies that go above and beyond to make their employees feel appreciated and valued, and to help them balance their work and personal lives. The profiles on pages 15-19 highlight the benefits and policies that help make these companies great places to work.

It's also interesting to look at these top companies as a group to find the commonalities among great places to work:

• Average number of years the highest-ranking official has been in office: 15.7
• 89% offer performance bonus or incentive programs to all employees
• 70% offer telecommuting options
• 70% offer the option to work compressed work weeks
• 70% provide an Employee Assistance Program, which offers counseling to employees on a range of issues, such as stress management, family or parenting issues, smoking cessation, elder-care issues, financial management, etc.
• 70% have on-site facilities that promote exercise and fitness
• 60% offer on-site fitness/wellness programs
• 40% pay all or part of employees' costs for health-club memberships or fitness/wellness programs
• 80% provide cafeteria or meal subsidies, free daily snacks or beverages (a few even provide free cafeteria meals)
• 50% provide adoption assistance, usually in the form of reimbursement for adoption-related expenses, up to $2,500-$5,000
• 80% provide domestic partner benefits
• 90% offer tuition reimbursement (a couple pay 100%)

But it isn't all about benefits. A few companies on the list don't offer the range of benefits that some of the others do; yet, on the employee survey, they ranked quite high. Why? It seems clear that employees value respect and empowerment just as much. Most companies on the list communicate openly and regularly with employees, and involve them in most decisions. Several also survey employees regularly and/or have established committees that work to address employee concerns and essentially build the company environment around employees' suggestions. So, hats off to these companies for valuing their employees and for their hard work at keeping those valued employees happy.