SAS Seems to Know Secret for Keeping Workers Happy

Gone are the days when health insurance was enough of abenefit to attract and keep quality workers. According toFortuneMagazine's list of the best 100 companies to work for in America,big business is now delivering the extras. The SAS Institute in Cary camein third on that list, due in large part to employees who had great thingsto say about their work environment.

Imagine working in a place where your children are cared for, you canexercise, visit the doctor, do your job and even eat. That place exists. It is the SAS Institute in Cary. David Russo, vice president of humanresources, says the company is committed to its employees.

Those types of things make it that much nicer to go to your jobeveryday, especially for working parents. On-site day care at SAS givesparents peace of mind and more time with their kids. SAS employee SuzyNesbit says the day care center is a real blessing.

But while the perks are nice, employees say support is just asimportant. Employee Gale Adcock says she likes the way she's treated atwork.

There were two other North Carolina companies on the list.Glaxo-Wellcome of Research Triangle Park and Lowes Companies of NorthWilkesboro. The list will appear in the January issue of the magazine.

The Fortune's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America was compiled through more than 200,000 employee interviews nationwide.

Southwest Airlines topped the list. Kingston Technology, Fel-Pro, andTD Industries round out the top five.

Photographer:Mark Copeland