Winners:

Most laid-back atmosphere

• Dave Syferd & Partners
• Rusty George Design
• All The Best Pet Care

"Laid-back" may be an understatement in this category, because life at advertising and public relations firm Dave Syferd & Partners sounds like a downright party. "Pool table, workout room, fondue days and the roundtable for us girls with a huge stack of gossip rags to know what is going on with Lohan and Paris," exclaims one worker. Employees at Rusty George Design commented on how important their creative work environment is to their output. "We love to work," says one employee. "Somedays that means we are at the zoo taking pictures of animals, doing an oil painting or using an antique letterpress to get the job done. It's always fun." All The Best Pet Care garnered a slew of votes for their flexible scheduling. There's "no guilt if you need time off or need to shift schedules with another employee," says one worker.

Honorable mention:

Cascadia Consulting Group
You would think "environmental management consulting" would be all work and no play. Not so, says one employee, who described their work life this way: "1) constant pranking; 2) frequent parties as run by the 'FUN Committee' including pumpkin-carving, 'Mojito Madness,' scavenger hunts and the 'Wind-It-Up Rally' (a wind-up toy obstacle race); 3) naps when necessary; 4) office chair races; and 5) all-around fun people."