SAS, the world's largest privately held software company, was again recognised in Fortune magazine's annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. SAS ranked number eight this year; the company has been among the top 20 companies, and six times among the top 10, all seven years that the list has been published.
Amid high unemployment in the US, SAS increased its overall US headcount by 6% in 2003. SAS's vice-president of human resources, Jeff Chambers, believes the investment in people is essential to the company's business success.
"It's always an honour to be named to the Fortune list, and it's great to be back in the top 10," said Chambers. "I think we consistently demonstrate that through strategic hiring and by sticking to an employee-friendly business model, we can continue to be successful."
In compiling the list for Fortune, Robert Levering and Milton Moscowitz of the Great Place to Work Institute in San Francisco, survey a random sample of employees from the organisations who submit applications. Levering and Moscowitz place the greatest weight on employee survey responses (two-thirds of the total score), in addition to evaluating each company's documentation of its benefits, culture, and HR policies and practices.
JM Smucker, the Orrville, Ohio-based maker of jam, jelly and other food items, tops Fortnue's seventh annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. Atlanta law firm Alston & Bird (two), Dallas-based The Container Store (three), Edward Jones, the St Louis-based financial services firm (four) and Republic Bancorp of Owosso, Michigan (five) round out the top five.
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