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SAS rated world's best workplace [The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)](News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 14--SAS's widespread reputation as a great place to work has jumped a notch: It grabbed the No. 1 ranking in a prestigious list of top global employers released Wednesday. Last year, which was the first year for the worldwide ranking compiled by the Great Place to Work Institute, the Cary-based business software company rated second behind Microsoft. Microsoft fell to No. 5 in the latest list. The institute is a global human resources consulting, research and training firm that for years has collaborated with Fortune magazine to produce its well-known list of the best companies to work for. Durham-based Quintiles and several companies that have a major presence in the Triangle also made the institute's list. Jenn Mann, vice president of human resources at SAS, said being No. 1 was especially meaningful because the rankings are based on employee feedback. The company boasts that its annual turnover rate it is an unusually low 2.6 percent. "SAS has been doing what we do for going on 36 years," she said. "There is nothing new in what we are doing. I think we are just getting recognition because we are a growing, global organization." The company's sprawling Cary headquarters campus offers free on-site health healthcare; subsidized childcare; dry cleaning and car detailing services; cafes where you can place an order to go online; and a work/life center staffed with professionals who can offer parenting or eldercare counseling or help area newcomers find the right school for their children. "It starts with our CEO (co-founder Jim Goodnight) who firmly believes our employees are our greatest asset and the most important thing -- and seeing the connection between the way we treat our employees and how they treat our customers," Mann said. SAS ranked No. 3 in this year's Fortune magazine ranking of the best places to work, the ninth time it has ranked in the top 10. The privately held company has 5,077 employees in Cary and 13,349 workers worldwide. Durham-based Quintiles, the world's largest pharmaceuticals company, ranked No. 23 on the institute's list this year. Last year it came in No. 25. The privately held company has more than 2,000 employees in the Triangle and 27,000 worldwide. To be considered for the list, companies must make at least five national great-place-to-work lists, have at least 5,000 employees and have a major contingent of workers outside their home country. Other companies with a major Triangle presence that made this year's top-25 list are: --NetApp, No. 3. The California-based data storage giant which announced in July that it expects to add 460 jobs at its Research Triangle Park campus over the next four years. --Ernst & Young, No. 12. The Big Four accounting firm has a staff of 211 in its Raleigh office. --Cisco, No. 21. Cisco is one of the Triangle's larger employers with more than 5,000 employees and contractors at its Research Triangle Park campus. --Novo Nordisk, No. 22. The Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has offices in Morrisville and a manufacturing plant in Clayton. Ranii: 919-829-4877 ___ (c)2012 The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) Visit The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) at www.newsobserver.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |