Recent Great Place to Work winners

— -- Microsoft (No. 1 on the 2011 multinational list, released Thursday) "You're only as good as your employees," says Microsoft Chief People Officer Lisa Brummel.

The company offers flex time, telecommuting and job sharing.

Local offices can also launch their own endeavors.

For instance, Microsoft Norway hosts a quarterly "junior lunch" where workers on maternity or paternity leave bring their kids into the office for lunch with colleagues.

Job website Snagajob(No. 1 on the 2011 small-business list, released Oct. 18)

CEO Shawn Boyer e-mails an inspirational quote daily, holds a quarterly lunch with 20 staffers and sends a handwritten note — along with a $100 gift card — to new employees.

He has potential new employees meet with various Snagajob staffers, so they can weed out those who aren't team players.

"Some (candidates) will kiss up to the person who they think they'll be reporting to and will act differently to someone who they don't think will matter," he says.

Insurance provider Acuity(No. 1 on midsize business list, also released Oct. 18)

CEO Ben Salzmann has hosted circus-themed meetings, a companywide chocolate-tasting party and an employee mechanical-bull-riding event.

He's put a priority on open employee communications, invites staffers into board meetings and provides affordable health benefits. (He hasn't raised employee health insurance rates in 11 years.)

"Gimmicks are important," but only as part of a culture where employees feel valued, he says. "We want everyone to cross the finish line together."