January Fast Company Article Summary by Carol A. Thesing Sanity Inc. by Charles Fishman, pages 85-99.

SAS Institute Inc. is a very competitive and cutting-edge software company in Cary, North Carolina. SAS analyzes agricultural research, manages frequent-visitor programs, develops new drugs, calculates the Consumer Price Index, as well as a variety of other software issues.

SAS Institute Inc. is a company that is involved it national and international changes. Out of 100 of United States largest public companies, 98 of them use SAS Institute Inc. And yet it is a company many have not heard of. SAS is noted not only for its successfulness in new ideas and productivity but also in retention of employees. SASs turnover rate was as little as 3.7 % last year and it has never been higher than 5%. That is an unprecedented statistic.

Surprisingly, SAS employees do not have stock options and receive average salaries. So what keeps them productive and happy? Jim Goodnight, founder of SAS Institute Inc. and John Sall co-owner, says their focus is employees, customers and product.

Employees say it is the relaxed, gorgeous environment, unlimited sick days, child and elder care center, health clinic, fitness center, laundry care, art gallery, and family mealtime. Just to mention a few. All of these extras are a part of their work facility. Employees also say the have a sense of freedom in their work, a flexibility and resources to do their job and a very interesting and exciting environment.

Employees are valued at SAS. The name of the employee on the developing or creating team will be found on their products. Everyone works in the trenches, management and blue-collar workers. On Wednesday of every week, SAS provides its employees with M&Ms. Last year alone Jim Goodnight provided 22.5 ton of M&Ms to his employees

Carols Comments: What a company to work for. My friends and I decided we would like to try working in this environment even for a short while. We believe the key is not only valuing the employee but also letting them know on a daily basis just how important they are. Wouldnt it be wonderful to go to work each day in an environment like they have at SAS Institute Inc.? Employees work their hardest. They have an uncommon loyalty to their employer and they are only expected to work 8 hours a day and never more than 9. This environment helps to produce products that continually are competitive and cutting-edge. SAS does this in what the employee describes as a relaxed environment. To me, it almost seems like an oxymoron. I have never before heard such success without the stress word attached to it. All employers can learn from this example. Not only does it increase productivity but also according to Goodnight and Sall it saves money. They say they save millions each year in retention alone.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 1999

Answers

Thanks for commenting on this article. Others in your cohort selected this one too. It certainly does sound too good to be true. Companies have realized that with the low unemployment rates that we have, it it necessary to develop ways to attract and retain quality employees. Even the public institutions of higher education have realized this, and are beginning to find other incentives to ensure they will retain quality employees. Unfortunately, this is a slow process in a bureaucratic organization.

-- Anonymous, May 23, 1999