Creative recession solutions

These Best Companies aren't sticking to the book when it comes to dealing with an economic downturn.

The office suggestion box doesn't always go unnoticed -- at least at Nugget Market. To help its workers deal with a dismal economy, the grocery store chain responded to a popular employee request.

In 2009, Nugget Market began to provide employees with 10% discount cards on up to $500 worth of groceries monthly at any of the northern California chain's 12 locations. Workers had never before received employee discounts.

Since the program began a year ago last January, employees have used the cards to purchase $800,000 in groceries. Due to positive worker feedback, Nugget Market said it will continue to offer the discount in 2010.