Nestlé, Credit Suisse and Google are the best companies to work for in Switzerland, according to a survey by Sweden's Universum Communications.

Striking a balance between professional and personal life remained the single most important indicator of job satisfaction, the survey found.

More than 3,700 employees with academic qualifications were interviewed for the survey.

Apart from the work-life balance, the majority said they also wanted to be intellectually challenged at work, a goal pursued by more and more professionals.

Nestlé, Credit Suisse and Google were followed in the survey  by UBS and the Swatch Group. Rounding out the top ten were Swiss, Novartis, Migros, Lindt&Sprüngli and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Compared with the 2010 ranking, the positions remained the same, said Universum Communications.

In Universum's global ranking, published in September, Nestlé occupied 19th position, with Credit Suisse 33rd and UBS 35th. Search engine giant Google topped the podium.