What makes employees want to come to work and to work hard while they are there? Appreciation. A good "thank you" for a job well done goes a long way with workers in Pittsburgh. That was one of the findings by Workplace Dynamics when it surveyed workers in the region: 70 percent (the highest of any category) said feeling appreciated was important. (10/06/2011)

Whether selling cars, running a bank or heading up an online school, the best bosses balance the needs of their customers and clients with the needs of employees who look to them for leadership and vision. It's a tough juggling act, and not all CEOs do it well. (10/06/2011)

When Midland High School closed in 1986, the economically depressed steel town had 50 high school students. Until the mid-1990s, students from Beaver County's Midland community were bused to East Liverpool, Ohio. Then Nick Trombetta came on as Midland Borough School District superintendent and decided to find a way to keep Midland students in Midland. His approach was unconventional: (10/06/2011)

When Phil Arrigo began making home deliveries for Turner Dairy Farms at age 18 in an old-fashioned Divco milk truck -- complete with stand-up gas pedal and all -- he says he was the youngest milkman in Pennsylvania. Fifty-two years later, the Divco truck has been laid to rest as the farm's welcome sign, and Mr. hasn't driven his delivery routes through the city, Natrona Heights and Greensburg in more than 10 years. But he's still working for Turner. (10/06/2011)

When Bob Tudi started Tudi Mechanical Systems in McKees Rocks in 1987, he had a wife and four children to support and just $4,000 to fund his business. But he also had a secret weapon -- a deep, uncommon love of repairing air conditioners. (10/06/2011)

From her desk near the entrance to the women's shelter at Washington City Mission, Nettie Ledbetter observes individuals who show up with problems ranging from domestic abuse to joblessness or alcoholism. (10/06/2011)

If employees at the Frick Art & Historical Center in Point Breeze have trouble finding the hours they need to attend to personal business, they can buy extra vacation days. When they are summoned for jury duty, the Frick pays their regular salary on top of the stipend they receive for serving as jurors. (10/06/2011)

When a company talks pay and benefits, it is usually talking dollars and cents. But benefits to employees often extend beyond money and into sense. Berner International in New Castle is in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning business. (10/06/2011)

The cash-flush tech bubble at the turn of the century introduced a new world of perks to the workplace: on-site daycare, free ice cream all day, a masseuse on standby to work the kinks out of your back. (10/06/2011)

The survey asked employees to anonymously tell us why they love their jobs. Here are a few samples of what they said: "My manager is very personable and caring. He makes coming to work something to look forward to. Everyone here is nice and the atmosphere is usually positive and pleasant." "I feel good about what I'm doing. (10/06/2011)

If you want to be hired at one of the Top Places to Work in Pittsburgh, you'd better bring your A game. That's A for attitude. It also helps to be prepared and to be able to speak intelligently about the company doing the hiring. (10/06/2011)