Google Voted Best Reputation for Workers

Google claimed the number one spot from Microsoft, which fell to 10th place, as best company for employees.

Google Inc&#39s famous employee perks, from providing "nap pods" for a quick break during the day to allowing engineers to spend 20 percent of their work time on side projects that may spark new ideas, have given the Internet leader the best reputation in corporate America.

On the other hand, the U.S. airline industry, which has cut employee pay while raising prices and tacking on fees for formerly free services like meals and checked bags, saw its popularity tumble, the annual Harris Interactive Reputation Quotient poll found.

Largely for its reputation for treating workers well, Google claimed the No. 1 spot from Microsoft Corp, which fell to 10th place.

"The ratings they get focus on how they treat their employees, their workplace environment," said Robert Fronk, senior vice president at Rochester, New York-based Harris. "They absolutely get tremendous credit for the social responsibility, which for them is also linked with their vision and leadership."

Google&#39s famous mantra is "don&#39t be evil."

The poll, rating the reputations of 60 top U.S. companies and corporate America at large, was conducted in two waves.

Harris selected the 60 companies in July and August, when it asked 7,105 Americans to name two corporations that stood out in their minds for having very positive or very negative reputations. Then in February and March, pollsters turned to 20,477 respondents who rated the 60 companies on 20 attributes, including emotional appeal, the quality of their products and social responsibility.