Is Google the best tech company to work for, or is it Cisco, or Microsoft? The answer is none! In fact, none of the tech giants come close to NetApp, the storage and data management services provider which has been ranked as the best tech company by Fortune in its annual list of ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’. The list is now out for 2009. Check out the full list here. We listed the Top 10 below:

1. NetApp
2. Edward Jones
3. Boston Consulting
4. Google
5. Wegmans
6. Cisco
7. Genentech
8. Methodist Hospital
9. Goldman Sachs
10. Nugget Market

The company topped the list due to its “employee enthusiasm for the legendary egalitarian culture,” according to Fortune. Google, which had topped the list for the past two years, significantly dropped to No. 4 this year. Cisco too figured among the top 10. However, keeping in tune with the overall current global trend where tech companies have lost a lot of sheen as employers owing to recession, their position among the top 100 too has been shaken up.

(Also look at number 2. and 9. mmmm what will be there position next year).

Here is a list of these big daddies of the technology industry, where they ranked and how they fared as employers. US-headquartered NetApp tops the list of '100 Best Companies to Work For' in 2009.

The FORTUNE “100 Best” list is unique among workplace surveys in that two-thirds of the weight for the review is based on employee survey data. “The best way to find out if a company is a good employer is to ask the employees who work there,” said Milton Moskowitz who co-authored all the lists since 1998.

And now the top three (IT) companies!

Netapp deals in storage and data management solutions. Founded in 1992, the company has over 130 offices worldwide, 7,999 employees and clocked in $3.3 billion revenue in (FY2008). The company, which rose to the top slot after six years on the list, was selected for its "employees enthusiasm" for the legendary egalitarian culture. Fortune said the company gives workers five paid days for volunteer work, $11,390 for adoption assistance, as well as coverage for family members with autism. Average annual pay for the biggest group of salaried workers is example "Member Technical Staff, Software 4" $134,716. Also, at a time when companies across the board are downsizing globally in a bid to save cost, NetApp is among a few who haven't still taken the pink slips route. The company has more than $2 billion in cash on hand to help it ride out the global financial crisis.

Google, which held the No. 1 spot for two years running in 2007 and 2008, slipped to fourth place this year. The Mountain View search company has been reportedly cutting back on some of its celebrated employee perks -- instead of a $1,000 holiday bonus, for example, workers this year got a free smartphone.  With tough economic environment hitting revenues, Google has taken to austerity measures, this includes cut in travel expenditure, perks and free food. Perks may have reduced, however, Google still remains among the top workplaces. The search giant which celebrated its tenth birthday in 2008, still attracts 777,000 applicants a year. And one thing must for all Googlites is exercising. There’s a workout room with weights and a rowing machine, and foosball, whirlpool and roller hockey matches happen twice a week at the parking lot. And guess who can accompany you in your office? Pets are welcomed to the Google experience, provided people around your desk don’t object.

Cisco Systems, Networking major retains its sixth position in the list. The company which was at the same position last year too is focusing on collaborative efforts to give employees more say in decision-making. Flexibility, trust, and empowerment are touted as the hallmarks of the employee-employer relationship at Cisco. Flexi work time, telecommuting, parenting and work opportunities also go a long way in making the company an employee favourite. Founded in 1984 by a small group of computer scientists from Stanford University, Cisco's hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create Internet solutions. With more than 67,647 employees worldwide, the company's mantra is to motivate employees for innovation. In 2007, the company recorded a revenue of $34,900 millions.

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