GOOGLE Ranked NO.1 in employee satisfaction....!!

For the second year in a row, Internet search engine giant Google has been named as the best company to work for in America by Fortune magazine.

Google has topped the latest list of '100 Best American Companies to Work for' followed by online mortgage lender Quicken Loans and store chain Wegmans Food Markets in the second and third positions, respectively.

"Back in our No.1 spot, Google continued to mint millionaires as the stock cracked $700 . It gives stock options to 99 per cent of employees," the magazine said.

Interestingly, in last year's list of best companies to work for in America, Quicken Loans was ranked at the 17th position whereas Wegmans Food Markets was at the third place itself.

Other leading names in the list include Cisco Systems, Starbucks Coffee, Adobe Systems, Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Procter & Gamble, AstraZeneca and Nike.

Microsoft slipped to the 86th place in the latest list from 50th position last year.

According to the report, the job growth at Google is down to 60 per cent as compared to 67 per cent in 2007. Moreover, Quicken Loans had witnessed a steep jump in job growth to 68 per cent this year whereas it was just 19 per cent previous year.

"Ethically driven is what one employee calls the online mortgage lender. It avoided the subprime crisis by sticking with plain-vanilla loans," noted the magazine report.

The list was jointly prepared by Fortune and consulting firm Great Place to Work Institute after surveying 406 companies. About 1 lakh employees at these firms responded to queries related to their attitudes about the management's credibility and job satisfaction, among others.

Aussies' GILLY Retires.....

Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist has announced his retirement from all international cricket after the end of the third day's play at the Adelaide Oval against India on Saturday.

Gilchrist, 36, who broke the world record for most number of Test dismissals on the second day, clarified that this would be his last Test.

"It is with great pride and happiness that I make the decision to retire from Test and One-Day cricket. I've come to this decision after much thought and discussion with those most important to me," Gilchrist said in a statement issued by Cricket Australia on Saturday.

"My family and I have been fortunate to have had an amazing journey full of rich experiences throughout my career and are sincerely grateful to all who have helped make this stage of our lives so fulfilling," Gilchrist said.

"I am now ready and excited to move into the next phase of my life," he added, meaning the forthcoming Commonwealth Bank tri-series involving India and Sri Lanka will be his final appearance.

Player profile

Full name Adam Craig Gilchrist
Born November 14, 1971, Bellingen, New South Wales
Current age 36 years
Major teams Australia, ICC World XI, New South Wales, Western Australia
Nickname Gilly
Playing role Wicketkeeper batsman
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Fielding position Wicketkeeper
Height 1.85 m

INFOSYS MENTOR's NEW HEIGHTS

After having been declared as one of the recipients of state honour Padma Vibhushan, Murthy was also conferred with the Officer of the Legion of Honour, the highest civilian distinction of the Government of France.

The award was given to the veteran entrepreneur by the French Minister of Higher Education and Research Valerie Pecresse at a glittering function on Saturday evening.

Murthy was described as the "most admired business leader" of India.

Acknowledging the humble beginnings of Infosys - co-founded by Murthy in 1981 along with six friends - Pecresse said to have brought a company from $215 to a multi-million-dollar firm was a feat.

"Infosys, which employs over 82,000 staff, is a shining example of development in India," Pecresse was quoted as saying by news agencies.