Google officially the best company on Earth to work for, again

We already know that Google is prone to building the odd goofy Easter egg into its products, and that it has really cool data centres and that it loves a good practical joke. Now though, we can also confirm that it’s still the best company on the planet to work for.

At least that’s according to Fortune’s 2013 list of the best companies to work for.

According to Fortune, a few new additions to the facilities Google offers its employees helped Google retain the spot it’s held for four years in a row now:

The Internet juggernaut takes the Best Companies crown for the fourth time, and not just for the 100,000 hours of subsidized massages it doled out in 2012. New this year are three wellness centers and a seven-acre sports complex, which includes a roller hockey rink; courts for basketball, bocce, and shuffle ball; and horseshoe pits.

“Great to be recognized as employer #1 for the fourth time by Fortune (2007, 2008, 2012, 2013). We’ve tried really hard to create a work place where Googlers feel part of a family and it’s great to see that pay off,” said Larry Page on Google Plus.

Interestingly, the company that came second on the list — software giant SAS — has nowhere the same kind of goofy reputation. It’s not afraid of innovation however. Fortune quates an employee who cites SAS’s “creative anarchy” as conducive to innovation.

One thing that stands out from Fortune’s list is that there’s no place for Apple and Facebook (Microsoft is there but finds itself at a lowly 75th spot). That’s in stark contrast to the list of most in-demand employers of 2012. It should be noted however that Google also tops that list, meaning that it’s great workplace environment (which is what Fortune bases its list on) is is just one contributor to people wanting to work there.

Tech companies make up just over 10% of the list, which means that it’s still a top space to work in with companies who treat their employees well rising to the top.