Winners:

Best retirement & investment benefits

• Premera Blue Cross
• Verity Credit Union
• Meridian Technology Group

For most of us, 401(k) programs are our retirement plan. So it's great to hear workers at Premera Blue Cross, Verity Credit Union and Meridian Technology Group all enthusiastically praise their employers' matching 401(k) programs. Premera employees loved the company's retirement plan, the matching 3 percent of their 401(k) contributions and the free investment advice they receive. Meridian and Verity go one step further, matching 4 percent, so it's no surprise each had a slew of votes, too. With plans like these, we can all rest a bit easier about our post-cubicle lives.

Honorable mention:

Recreational Equipment, Inc.
We heard from more than a few REI employees about the outdoor supplier's progressive retirement savings plan. How does it work? Well, unlike a traditional 401(k), REI doesn't ask its employees to contribute anything. For each eligible participant, REI contributes 5 percent of an employee's earnings into a fund. And, depending on the company's annual profits, that number can even increase. You get to keep your full paycheck and they take care of you. That sounds just about as nice as a down vest on a cold day!