Just Can't Contain the SAS

In class today we watch two videos about companies that really stood out in my mind. The first company is The Container Store, and the second is SAS.

The Container Store is a unique employer. They take a look at the history of the different views of productivity/motivation and blend them together and customize them for an optimal working experience. Included in this list is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

At the Container Store communication is an important part of motivation. They have a very humanistic approach, which is greatly treasured by the employees. They understand that employees are an asset to the company, and pay them 50-100% more than their competition does because of that reason. They train all of their employees a little in every position so that they all have a basic understanding of each department. This results in employees who feel much happier and much more motivated about their job. They take jobs that would generally bring low morale and poor quality employees, and convert them into prestigious jobs.

The second company is called SAS. It began in 1976, and today is the largest privately held software company around. At SAS they emphasize quality rather than quantity from their employees.

They have full health care coverage, onsite daycare, and onsite health facility for their employees and their families to utilize. They, like The Container Store, also greatly value their employees and consider them assets. They have a very small turnover rate, and also have a great crew of employees. They will spend the time to make sure that they hire a quality employee, and not just someone to fill in. They expect that if their employees are satisfied, then they will stay at the company for a long time.

I think that these programs are working great for these companies. It pays off for the employer and employees. Why can’t more employers look to these companies as examples?