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www.HartfordBusiness.com • March 4, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 23 www.HartfordBusiness.com • March 4, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 23 BEST PLACES TO WORK IN CONNECTICUT Small/Medium Cos. Saisystems culture includes sharing profits for community needs By John Stearns Special to the Hartford Business Journal S helton- based technol- ogy and health company Saisystems In- ternational likes to care for its employees through benefits that include free gym mem- berships and an attractive 401(k) match, but it also feels a responsibil- ity to care for the broader community, its CEO said. "Giving back to the community is very core to us because it's very important we share our earnings with society," said Ramesh Wadhwani. The company donates 25 percent of its annual profits — a majority in commu- nities it operates in — focusing on social care, education and health care. It's part of a culture he believes fuels the company's attractiveness as a place to work. Wadhwani says the company's core values drive its culture and de- fine the company and its people. He notes instances where employees, on their own, have taken up causes to help others by raising money that Wadhwani will then double. Saisystems International, parent company of Saisystems Technology and Saisystems Health, has almost 300 employees spanning the globe, with roughly 35 in Shelton and the others in India and Romania. In caring for its employees, Wadh- wani noted a time when a piece of work slowed, essentially idling eight offshore employees. Rather than lay them off, he paid them over three months to get certi- fied in technology skills for an anticipat- ed future project. The company invested in the employees' training without any requirement they stay with Saisystems. "We do that because we should be doing that," he said. The company also has supported employees' health through wellness incentives like $75 gift cards for physi- cals, discounted Apple watches for fitness tracking and free membership at a Shelton gym. It contributes to their financial wellbeing through a 401(k) that matches 100 percent of a workers' first 3 percent in contributions, then 50 percent of contributions between 4 and 5 percent. Contributions vest immediately and there's a 70 percent employee participation rate. Saisystems, which closes at 1 p.m. the Friday of long holiday weekends, also will pay half of tuition, up to $2,500, for employees furthering their education and maintaining a B average. "They want you to be here as a career … and there are opportunities to grow within the company," said Samantha Manns, Saisystems' market- ing specialist. Manns likes Saisystems' transparency, too, with financials shared in quarterly town halls that include video conferenc- ing — a visual connection for employees linked by email and telephone. Saisystems International Headquarters: Shelton Industry: Technology Website: www.saisystems.com Twitter: @saisystemstech and @ saisyshealth Top executive: Ramesh Wadhwani, CEO RANKED 3 rd Saisystems International employees pose for a group photo. LIFETIME PATRONS: Aetna | Connecticut Public | The Hartford Financial Services Group | Lincoln Financial Foundation | The Rosalyn Group Stanley Black & Decker | Travelers | United Technologies Corporation | Voya Financial For tickets and info CALL 860.509.0909 OR VISIT CTFORUM.ORG SAMANTHA POWER Global Thinker, Former UN Ambassador JULIA GILLARD Former Prime Minister of Australia Live at The Bushnell AN UNSCRIPTED, UNFORGETTABLE CONVERSATION Moderated by: EVAN OSNOS Foreign Affairs Journalist Hosted by: