Balancing a career and raising a family is a juggling act, and we’re proud to support parents with on-site childcare, a generous childcare subsidy, family-friendly programs and industry-leading workplace flexibility to make life a little easier.
Casey Hensley, HR Business Partner, experienced this support firsthand as she and her husband welcomed their first baby, Ada, last year. Read on to hear her story, what she’s learned, and how SAS has supported her transition to the role of “mom.”
Casey’s Story
Growing up in the Triangle, Casey had always heard about SAS’ reputation as a top employer: “Working at SAS was my dream,” she shares. So, when she came across an open role that aligned with her experience and goals, she applied – and was hired! And then, some more exciting news: “The same month I was hired at SAS, I found out I was expecting my first baby,” she explains. “I was very nervous to tell my new manager that I’d be needing to go on maternity leave during my first year.”
Thankfully, Casey’s worries disappeared as she was met with congratulations and support from her manager, team and business leaders: “Everyone was so supportive,” she says. “My team even threw me a baby shower! The fact that they wanted to celebrate me, even when I was still relatively new to the team, meant a lot.”
Supported by SAS
Baby Ada arrived a few weeks early, and after a five-day hospital stay, Casey began 16 weeks of fully paid leave to grow and bond with Ada: “The generous leave from SAS took the pressure and stress of becoming a parent almost completely away, because I could focus on Ada. My team told me to focus on her and not to worry about anything – they had my back.”
Ada was born on a Thursday – and when the Hensleys were discharged from the hospital, their pediatrician and lactation consultant met them at the SAS Health Care Center (HCC) after hours the following Sunday for Ada’s first appointment. “Our provider, Megan, was so thorough. I could tell immediately that she truly cared about me and my baby,” Casey shares. “ To receive such individualized care so quickly after my daughter was born gave me a lot of peace of mind.”
From the beginning, the HCC was there to help: “Being on campus, the Health Care Center is so accessible. It took Ada awhile to get back up to her birthweight, so I brought her in once a week and they helped track her growth and make sure she was on track,” says Casey. “As a first-time mom, knowing that I could reach them at any time was such a relief.”
The Health Care Center doesn’t just offer great care – services and visits there are also completely free to employees on SAS’ PPO plan. “Our SAS benefits truly carried me through – it was incredible,” Casey shares. “When we got our bill for the extended hospital stay, we were shocked at how little we had to pay.”
Living the #saslife
Fast forward, and now Ada joins Casey on her commute to SAS Campus, with Ada attending SAS’ onsite daycare center operated by Bright Horizons. “The support of subsidized childcare is incredible, and to be able to walk over and check in on her gives me a lot of peace of mind,” shares Casey.
Casey has also benefitted from SAS’ flexible workplace and family-friendly policies, like unlimited sick time and generous PTO: “If you’re going into parenthood, you couldn’t be at a better place than SAS. The flexibility and support through this season of sleepless nights has been so appreciated. When I’ve needed to take Ada to appointments or pick her up when she’s sick, there’s never been a question – it’s always, “You take care of Ada, so you can bring your best self to work.””
For Casey, this is just one area where SAS has supported her well-being: “I’ve never worked at a company that values its people as much as SAS does. There’s a lot of trust, and it proves our CEO Jim Goodnight’s leadership philosophy to be true: If you treat people like they make a difference, they will. SAS has allowed me to do that without having to choose between starting a family or pursuing a career. At SAS, I can have both.”
Thanks, Casey, for sharing your story. We’re committed to supporting our employees’ well-being and proud to be recognized as a top workplace for parents and families. To learn more about the #saslife, read about our culture, explore open roles and hear more from our storytellers.
