SAS has been unveiled as one of the UK’s best large workplaces on the Great Place to Work© Institutes list of large companies. The annual Best Workplaces™ ranking was announced at a gala dinner on 3 May and placed SAS at number 21 in the list of the best workplaces with more than 500 employees.

The Best Workplaces™ rankings were created to reward companies that recognise high levels of employee trust and engagement are fundamental to creating an ideal working environment that supports business performance.

“The fact that SAS has made it into this highly-regarded league table is a huge achievement for the whole company. It reflects the success of the initiatives we have introduced to build and nurture a successful workplace culture, the commitment of our staff in building an effective business and the strength of our leadership,” said Charles Senabulya, Vice President and Country Manager for SAS UK & Ireland.

Best Workplaces™ evaluates and acknowledges companies that have created and sustained their performance because of their workplace culture. Companies listed are evaluated in two key ways; the Trust Index Employee Survey, which involves feedback from employees on whether credibility, fairness and respect are displayed at work. The second is a Culture and Management Survey which provides insight into a business’s programmes, practices and value systems.

SAS secured inclusion in the Best Workplaces™ after increasing its score in all 17 of the categories that the award evaluates. In total, 83 per cent of employees believed SAS was a great place to work due to its high employee engagement, wellbeing and trust. The award also acknowledged SAS’ strengths in offering diversity, a positive work environment and job security.

One of SAS’ key initiatives has been the creation of a ‘Be the Best’ team; a volunteer-led initiative, backed by the leaders of the SAS in the UK and Ireland, striving to improve communication, engagement and pride within the organisation. The end goal is to make sure employees are stepping up to the mark, taking responsibility and putting in the effort to make SAS an even better place to work.

“We want our people to be enthusiastic about SAS and work with us as stakeholders in the business,” added Sue Warman, HR Director, Northern Europe & Russia at SAS. “Creating strong workplace relationships, providing development opportunities and creating an environment where employees contribute are all key initiatives that we have introduced to build trust, pride and camaraderie. This recognition reflects the investment that we make in treating our staff as more than just employees.”

Tom O’Byrne, Great Place to Work® CEO said: “We are delighted to see SAS on our Best Workplaces™ list again this year. It is a validation of the strength of their leadership and commitment to creating the kind of culture which attracts and retains the best talent and where people have pride in what they do and want to do their best. The hallmark of a great workplace like SAS is that their policies and practices are designed around the employee; this employee focus helps attract and retain the talent essential for driving and sustaining competitive performance. It is no coincidence that high trust organisations like SAS also tend to perform better than their peers.”