Sage Products, Inc. is showing it is one of the country's premier companies by ranking 5th on the list of the Best Medium Sized Companies to Work For in America by the Great Place to Work^® Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

This is the fifth year in a row Sage has been named to the list, and Sage is proud to be the only company from Illinois on this year's list of medium sized companies.

"Five years in a row. Number 5 on the list. It's just awesome," said Sage President and Chief Operating Officer Scott Brown. "I'm so proud of everyone here who makes Sage a great place to work. Our people are the best in so many ways. Not only do they make the best quality products, but they also provide the best service in the industry and truly care about what they do. Plus they are dedicated to the community."

To earn this distinction, Sage staff were chosen at random to participate in a Great Place to Work Trust Index^® survey. In addition, a management questionnaire, annual reports, employee handbooks and other materials were submitted for review. The Great Place to Work Institute evaluates companies in five areas: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

Despite economic turmoil across the country, in 2008 Sage exceeded its own expectations by achieving record sales. The company also continues hiring and expanding its workforce of more than 550 associates. Some of the benefits that make Sage so desirable include a profit sharing plan and a 401(k) with a dollar-for-dollar company match - something almost unheard of today.

"It's such an honor to be recognized because essentially, it's our people telling us that they care about and believe in the culture Sage has created," says Sage Vice President of Human Resources Pam Allen. "The people have truly spoken, and we're just thrilled to be so high on this year's list."

Sage is a veteran-owned company entering its 39th year of manufacturing innovative healthcare products with a focus on prevention and solving real problems in the healthcare industry.
Sage is one of the few manufacturing companies selected for this year's list. The company runs 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, and employs more than 300 people in the manufacturing area. Although Sage has a global focus and product reach, all products are manufactured locally in Cary, IL.

"In a time when companies are shipping jobs overseas and relying on imported materials, we do it all right here," said founder and CEO Vince Foglia. "It's a huge source of pride for us. Quality is essential, and we're able to control that by making our products right here in the USA. And you'll never find better people than you'll find here at Sage. They make this a quality company."

Sage has always stressed a core belief in its employees, and being named to this list shows that the belief works both ways.
"Sage invests so much in me and all of its associates in terms of benefits, training and more," said Sage Key Customer Support Specialist Jamie Thrasher. "Sage has earned my loyalty. I love it here. I believe in this company, and hope to stay here for a long time."

With an average tenure of seven and a half years, Sage's associates embrace the company's family atmosphere and commitment to its people. Sage also makes associates' wellbeing a priority with benefits including an on-site fitness center and free annual health screenings for employees, their spouses, and company retirees.

In addition, Sage is a highly regarded member of the community, giving to and volunteering for countless endeavors in McHenry County and the surrounding area, including the Family Health Partnership Clinic, Centegra Sage Cancer Center and the Sage Learning Center at McHenry County College. Beyond monetary donations, volunteering is the true spirit of Sage, with associates giving many hours of their time to causes including the Sage House at the Children's Center for Autism, and the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"It means so much to me to work for a company that gives back to the community in such a big way," said Sage Assembly Lead Hilda Nunez. "I'm proud to tell people that I work for Sage."

Since 1971, Sage Products has developed innovative healthcare products trusted by leading healthcare facilities worldwide. The company has a core belief in prevention-that evidence-based interventions improve outcomes. Sage is pioneering Interventional Patient Hygiene (IPH) with industry-leading brands such as Toothette^® Oral Care, Sage^® 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate Cloths for patient preoperative skin preparation, Comfort Bath^® with Skin Check" full-body cleansing, Comfort Shield^® all-in-one incontinence care, and Prevalon^® pressure-relieving heel protection. These advanced hygiene products make it easier for busy nurses to deliver essential patient care. The company's goal is to help improve patient safety and outcomes by preventing skin breakdown, healthcare-associated pneumonias, surgical site infections, and other adverse nosocomial events. For more information about Sage, visit their website at www.sageproducts.com.

The Great Place to Work Institute produces various Best Companies lists in the U.S., including Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For In America, which recognizes the top companies with 1,000 or more employees. Companies that earn recognition use smart people management strategies to develop successful organizations with highly productive and satisfied workforces. Consequently, their employees trust the people they work for, have pride in what they do and enjoy the people with whom they work. For additional information about the Best Companies list, visit www.greatplacetowork.com or www.shrm.org.