SAS France joins the Great Place to Work® list

SAS France recognized among companies with fewer than 500 employees. 

PARIS  (Mar. 25, 2011)  – SAS France is one of 30 companies included in this year's listing of the Best Places to Work in France 2011, published March 21. The ninth edition of the French survey, conducted by the Great Place to Work® Institute, recognizes organizations that emphasize three core values: employees' trust of supervisors, employees' pride in their own contributions and those of their teams and the company overall, and friendliness.

This award, for which 127 firms applied in 2011, distinguishes between companies with more than 500 employees and those with fewer than 500 employees. According to the Great Place to Work Institute, "best practices that improve the working environment must be both simple and effective. They thus retain employees while promoting their professional and personal fulfillment in the workplace." While noting that flexibility in reporting relationships encourages dialogue and employee investment in their jobs, the institute also pointed out the importance of human resource tools and training on motivation and employee satisfaction.

SAS France fulfills these criteria, adding number of highlights:

• An outstanding work environment – includes both physical surroundings and resources, such as advanced equipment, training and support.
• True transparency in hiring, encouraging internal mobility – 57 percent of openings were filled internally in 2010.
• Employee retention – 37 percent of employees have more than 10 years on the job.
• Conviviality and team cohesion – includes hosting celebrations, bringing different services or departments together to meet a business objective, facilitating community activities initiated by employees (recycling, giving blood and platelets, collect toys for underprivileged children, promoting organ donation, etc.) and more.

"The cultivation of exceptional HR practice was initiated in 1976 by our CEO, Jim Goodnight, and propagated through SAS' subsidiaries. Our culture is characterized by a strong desire to invest in developing talent at all levels, through working conditions, research and innovation," said Edouard Fourcade, CEO of SAS France. "The resulting satisfaction and employee motivation have a direct impact on the operation of the company and its results."

Indeed, the French subsidiary had a very positive year in 2010, with overall revenue growth of 10.3 percent, including 46 percent for new sales.

Worldwide recognition

SAS France's appearance on this list represents a first for SAS' French subsidiary. Already awarded "Top Employer" designation in 2010 and 2011, the French office now joins the many subsidiaries recognized by the Great Place to Work Institute in Europe, including Norway, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal. Other SAS subsidiaries to receive similar recognition include Canada, India, Brazil, Korea, Mexico, Australia and China.

In the U.S., SAS has appeared in the Great Companies to Work For ranking since its inception in 1998, eight times in the top 10. In 2011, the company earned its second consecutive No. 1 "Best Companies to Work For" ranking in the U.S. by Fortune magazine for its benefits supporting employee health, childcare and work/life balance.

For Jim Goodnight, CEO and founder of SAS, it is essential to show employees they are the key to the success of the company. "If you treat employees as if they make a difference to the company, they will make a difference."

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