FAIRBANKS — A common problem for many businesses is how to attract and retain great employees. Managers often conclude that unless they can offer a spectacular pay and benefits package, it’s a hopeless situation. When you look at Fortune magazine’s 2011 list of best companies to work for, the organizations appear to have money to burn and spare no expense on their employees. Google offers perks like trips to Disneyland, cafeterias with free food, tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance, free laundry services and 10 percent pay raises. SAS provides employees with free “on-site health care, high-quality child care, summer camp for kids, car cleaning services, a beauty salon and ... a 66,000-square-foot gym.”

Such extravagant benefits are the exception, however. In fact, many of the companies on Fortune’s list of best companies to work for use inexpensive, thoughtful and creative ways to keep employees happy, loyal and productive. Below are some examples:

• J.M. Smucker has been a regular on Fortune’s list for years, mainly because of the family values that have shaped its culture for generations. Tim and Richard Smucker are co-CEO’s and brothers who, according to Fortune, “see themselves as stewards of a family business whose reputation for integrity and decency is one of its most valuable assets. They want to give their employees opportunities to grow along with the business ... and, their leadership style is more about ‘we’ than ‘me.’”

• Whole Foods Markets also encourages employees to work as a team. They are given a great deal of freedom in their work and have the authority to evaluate a new employee. After a month on the job, team members who have worked with the new hire determine if he is a good fit for the company. If the employee makes the cut, he is mentored by the team and gets a 20 percent discount on store products.

• For employees at REI, rentals are free, REI clothes and gear are 50 percent off and they receive a gift every year. When they reach their 15 year anniversary with the company, they are entitled to a four-week paid sabbatical.

• Men’s Wearhouse, a men’s clothing store and tuxedo service, throws a bash every year for its employees. As you’d expect, these are black tie events.

• The Container Store believes in investing in their employees by providing top-notch training. In their first year, employees receive more than 260 hours of training.

• Wegmans works to keep their employees healthy by rewarding those who stick to a balanced diet. They also offer free health screenings, flu shots and H1N1 vaccines.

• At St. Jude Children’s Hospital, staff members “enjoy perks like organic vegetables from an on-site garden and up to $3,600 in tuition reimbursement.”

Most of the companies on Fortune’s list of best companies to work for don’t offer employees free vacations, on-site tanning beds or gourmet meals served for lunch. Most of the perks they offer include things like flexible schedules, monthly pizza parties, time off for birthdays or anniversaries and rewards like movie tickets or gift certificates. And let’s not forget the power of a simple thank you card. Thanking employees for a job well-done is not only cheap, but gives them a great deal of job satisfaction.

Often, some of the best companies to work for don’t offer expensive benefits packages. Instead, they find simple ways to show employees they care and appreciate them.

Melissa Brown is an associate professor of applied business at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Community and Technical College. She can be reached at mcbrown@alaska.edu. This column is provided as a public service of the UAF Applied Business Department.