Did you know that world-famous knife manufacturer, Victorinox, claims never to have had to lay off an employee? Ever.

Victorinox opened for business in the late 19th century, since 1884 to be precise. So that's around 130 and a half years, to be not-so-precise. Let's say 131 years. 131 years without any form of firing or retrenchment!? What kind of company is this?



And they didn't achieve this by relying on good fortune or the help of some legal technicalities. To avoid having to fire anyone, the company set aside profits during boom periods to supplement recessionary periods, and instead of letting people go they temporarily contracted employees to other companies as outsourced labour during bad times.

How's that for impressive? Besides, you know, being the world's largest maker and supplier of pocket knives and other Swiss stabbing goodness.

Some more trivia: Victorinox's famous emblem — a cross in a shield — has been used by Victorinox since 1909. That fateful year, the mother of founder Karl Elsener passed away and he named the company "Victoria" in her honour. In 1921, with the introduction of "inox" (ab. for acier inoxydable, the French term for stainless steel) into their products, the brand and name of the company became the present name "Victorinox" ("Victoria"+"Inox").

What's your company's claim to fame?