Lands' End lives up to its reputation as one of the top 100 companies to work for in America, according to our employee contacts. "The people here are extremely friendly and really team-oriented. They almost treat you like a member of the family," says one. "Every person in the company, from the chairman of the board on down, is friendly and approachable," says another. Dress is "very casual," and company hierarchy is de-emphasized. "Every person in the company from the CEO on down is friendly and approachable," brags one insider. "Internal job struggles are much less of a problem here than anywhere else I've worked." If you've read the catalog, you've seen the stories of customer service operators that get up at 4 a.m. to milk their cows, then drive into work to take your order. "That's not just a marketing thing," claims an insider. "Those people are really here, and they're great to work with."

Great offices, especially if you like corn-fields

In 1989 Lands' End built an $8 million Employee Activity Center, which includes an Olympic-sized pool, basketball and racquetball courts, and a full schedule of aerobics, yoga, and other classes - all this munificence "at no cost to the employees or their families," according to one contact. Benefits are "great," with $1,000 a year for dental care, a matching 401(k) deal, full health benefits for part-timers and even payment for smoking cessation programs. "Especially considering the cost of living and quality of life here, the pay is very respectable." Many employees commute from Madison, 40 minutes away, because, as more than one commented, the company is located "literally in the middle of a corn field in Wisconsin." As a result of its location, the employee population is not very diverse when it comes to minorities, though more than half of Lands' End workers are women.

Perks' end

All Lands' End employees get a catalog discount (prices are slightly higher than cost, plus shipping) and an additional 10 percent discount at the Outlet and Inlet stores. Other perks include discount tickets and special passes for local museums, movie theatres, and amusement parks. The company really takes care of its interns as well: all internships are all paid, and the company will pay for security deposits and reimburse travel expenses.