SAE International
“In the not-for-profit world, you can’t always provide the same direct compensation as for-profit organizations, so benefits really become an important part of your strategy.”
– David Schutt, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, SAE International
Company Facts
- Location: Warrendale, Pa.
- Type of business: SAE International is a global membership association of 115,000 mobility professionals who focus their work in the aerospace, automotive and commercial vehicle industries. SAE International’s core competencies are life-long learning and standards development.
- Number of employees: 272
- Founded: 1905
- Web site: www.sae.org
Benefit highlights
- 80% employer-paid medical insurance premiums for employees and dependents
- 403(b) plan with 30% – 100% match to a maximum of 6% deferred (based on years of participation in the plan); average employee deferral is 7%
- Defined benefit pension plan for employees hired before 1/1/08; those hired after 1/1/08 receive a non-discretionary employer deferral of 6.5% to the 403(b) plan in lieu of participation in the pension plan
- 100% employer-paid premiums for short- and long-term disability insurance
Percent of employees participating in 403(b) plan: 98%
Greatest impact on financial security of employees: SAE International believes its emphasis on employee education, as well as the opportunity for employees to participate in both a defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plan, provide a big impact on employees’ financial security. “Together with our provider, we work to offer educational and counseling sessions on an on-going basis that help employees plan for their financial future,” said Carole Faust, Benefits and Payroll Manager at SAE International.
Other interesting facts:
- Wellness program spans more than 20 years
- Offers one-on-one meetings with a financial planner
Why Judges Selected SAE International
Watch a video of comments from 10 Best judge, D. Holly Lifke, vice president of Human Resources, Society Insurance, one of The Principal 10 Best Companies—2007
Read the transcript
“There are a couple of things about SAE International that really stood out. First of all, they have a very encompassing approach to their benefits. There’s also a very strong emphasis on retirement and not just retirement in the traditional sense. They’re helping employees transition to retirement. That’s an area I think a lot of businesses are giving attention to and SAE does a really nice job with that. Lastly, they have taken the next step in wellness. They have not only got a nice wellness program, but they’ve integrated their cafeteria and their on-site fitness facility into their wellness program. So you don’t go workout at the club and then go find high-carb, high-fat snacks in the cafeteria. They’ve balanced those things out a little bit. They've also integrated some fun things. They bring a massage therapist in weekly and they also do a really fun poker walk, which encourages people to get up and get moving.”
— D. Holly Lifke, 10 Best judge and vice president of Human Resources, Society Insurance, one of The Principal 10 Best Companies—2007
