Southern Co.

Why you want to work there

This Atlanta-based energy firm is focused on building a team of workers who also feel like family. Last year, IT employees at Gulf Power hosted the 11th annual Fall Football Frenzy, raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, in honor of the son of two IT employees, who is battling lymphoma. The company also hosts blood drives, in cooperation with the American Red Cross. The Georgia Power Family House program provides two houses, located near major Atlanta hospitals, for families who must travel long distances for medical treatment in the city. The homes are available free of charge to company employees and their families. The company also has an Employee Assistance Fund that provides financial assistance to any employee who has experienced a serious illness or hardship, such as a fire or natural disaster. The company recruits transitioning military, National Guard and Reserve members, and veterans, who accounted for 26% of the company's new hires and 11% of all employees in 2009. Special for IT: The IT department recognizes its own with the intellectual property program and the IT awards program. Any employee who submits an idea to the intellectual property program receives an innovative thinker's medallion. If the company files for a patent on that idea, the employee receives cash plus additional rewards if the patent generates revenue. Over the past five years, employees have received $111,000 in cash awards. New this year: A vacation purchase program allows employees to buy extra vacation time on a pretax basis for the following year. Employees are also now able to donate vacation time to fellow employees facing a medical or family emergency.