At SAS, we believe that prioritizing employee well-being is the right thing to do for our people; it also makes good business sense.
Life doesn’t stop when we log on or walk into the office, and that’s why we offer unique resources like our onsite Health Care Center, Recreation and Fitness Center and Work/Life Center to make life’s juggling act a little easier. These aren’t just perks – they’re part of our commitment to supporting employees through every season of life.
For Principal Content Marketing Specialist Beth Kasson, who works remotely, these resources became a lifeline during one of the most challenging chapters of her life.
Beth’s Story
Beth started at SAS early in her career, and since then, she’s held a variety of roles in Sales and Marketing. “What I love about working at SAS is that I’ve been able to grow and evolve here,” she shares. “I’m allowed to be creative, to test and try new ideas. It’s not just logging on for the same thing each day.”
But in 2023, her life changed dramatically.
“My husband, Brian, was diagnosed with a disease called Cardiac Sarcoidosis,” she explains. “For two years, he was in and out of the hospital with severe cardiac symptoms that ultimately led to him needing a heart transplant.”
Then, at the same time Brian’s health was rapidly deteriorating, Beth received her own life-altering news – a breast cancer diagnosis.
“I had surgery on July 21, and four days later, Brian was admitted to the hospital,” she shares. “He was in multi-organ failure and ended up staying in the ICU until he received his transplant in mid-August.”
Brian came home 10 days after his transplant, and soon after, Beth started radiation treatment.
Today, Beth and Brian are both doing well – Brian is recovering well after his heart transplant and Beth is finished with radiation treatments.
Supported by SAS
Throughout this journey, Beth was surrounded by support – from her team, HR, and from SAS’ health resources.
“My manager at the time had previously had an organ transplant, so he understood what Brian and I were going through,” she said. “That made a big difference.”
Despite living across the country from SAS HQ, Beth and Brian were also supported by SAS’ on-site Pharmacy with mail orders. “The drugs Brian has been on are crazy,” she explains. “He was taking upwards of 30 pills a day at one point. If I had to stand in line at a typical pharmacy every time he needed a refill or there was a prescription change, it would have added so much stress for both of us. Our SAS pharmacist called Brian after his transplant to find out how he was doing and let him know he was in communication with the hospital to prepare his prescriptions once he was released. This was such a support for both of us,” she said.
Beth also felt the support of HR: “HR was with me every step of the journey,” she reflects. “They weren’t asking when I was coming back – they were asking, “do you have enough time? Is there anything we can do for you?””
We couldn’t have done this without SAS. Before this happened, I knew of some of our benefits, but I never thought I’d need to use them. I’m so grateful they were there when I needed them.
Even the medical team took notice. “Hospital staff would comment on how amazing the SAS insurance coverage was,” she remembers. “We couldn’t have done this without SAS,” she reflects. “Before this happened, I knew of some of our benefits, but I never thought I’d need to use them. I’m so grateful they were there when I needed them.”
Living the #saslife
Beth says the connections she’s built are a testament to the one-of-a-kind culture at SAS: “Working remotely, I haven’t met many of my colleagues in person, but I have such a rich community here,” she says. “Several of my SAS colleagues sent us gifts during our recovery, and my global team created a “Busting Beth and Brian’s Boredom” document with suggestions for shows to watch, books to read, music playlists and other ideas to help us during our recovery period.”
These experiences have only deepened Beth’s appreciation for the #saslife: “The people and culture are what make SAS special,” she explains. “But it is also a very innovative place to work, and it’s exciting to continue to be challenged by other ideas and different perspectives.”
Advice for others
For anyone navigating a similarly difficult season, Beth offers this advice: “When family, friends or your employer offer help, say yes. It’s a knee-jerk reaction to say no, but you need the help more than you realize.”
Thanks, Beth, for your willingness to share your story! We’re proud to support multiple dimensions of our employees’ well-being. To learn more about the #saslife, read about Our Culture, explore open roles and hear from more of Our Storytellers.
