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19 March 2024

The 100 best firms for working moms

Published
By Shuchita Kapur

You don’t have to be squeezed out of the job market after entering the phase of motherhood. Increasingly, more and more companies are making their policies employee friendly and encouraging mothers to remain a part of their workforce.

A website, www.workingmother. com, has listed the best companies to work for, keeping in mind those employees who have to juggle between professional commitments as well as family responsibilities.

The 2014 Working Mother 100 Best Companies not only support them with fully paid leave but also give varied benefits which include childcare support, flexible schedules and telecommuting. Besides this, there are advancement programmes on offer to help women continue and succeed in their careers.

On average, the Working Mother 100 Best Companies offer eight fully paid weeks off for new-birth moms, three for new dads and five for new adoptive parents.

These companies also encourage employees to sever the electronic leash and completely shut off during the weekends or holidays to help them spend quality family time.

Here are the top ten companies that working mothers choose.

#1 Abbott

Women managers/execs: 45 per cent

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave: 4.9

Average weeks of fully paid paternity leave: 0

Backup childcare: Yes

Sick childcare: Yes

Managers trained to hire/advance women: Yes
 

#2 Deloitte

Women managers/execs: 38 per cent

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave: 14

Average weeks of fully paid paternity leave: 8

Backup childcare: Yes

Sick childcare: Yes

Managers trained to hire/advance women: Yes
 

#3 Discovery Communications

Women managers/execs: 54 per cent

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave: 10

Average weeks of fully paid paternity leave: 4

Backup childcare: Yes

Sick childcare: Yes

Managers trained to hire/advance women: No
 

#4 Ernst & Young

Women managers/execs: 41 per cent

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave: 12

Average weeks of fully paid paternity leave: 6

Backup child care: Yes

Sick child care: Yes

Managers trained to hire/advance women: Yes
 

#5 General Mills


Women managers/execs: 44 per cent

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave: 6

Average weeks of fully paid paternity leave: 2

Backup childcare: Yes

Sick childcare: Yes

Managers trained to hire/advance women: Yes
 

#6 IBM

Women managers/execs: 29 per cent

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave: 6

Average weeks of fully paid paternity leave: 2

Backup childcare: Yes

Sick childcare: Yes

Managers trained to hire/advance women: Yes
 

#7 Prudential

Women managers/execs: 48 per cent

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave: 4

Average weeks of fully paid paternity leave: 2

Backup childcare: Yes

Sick childcare: Yes

Managers trained to hire/advance women: Yes
 

#8 PwC


Women managers/execs 41 per cent

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave 15

Average weeks of fully paid paternity leave 3

Backup childcare: Yes

Sick childcare: Yes

Managers trained to hire/advance women: Yes
 

#9 Wellstar Health System


Women managers/execs: 67 per cent

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave: 3

Average weeks of fully paid paternity leave: 3

Backup childcare: Yes

Sick childcare: Yes

Managers trained to hire/advance women: Yes
 

#10 Zoetis


Women managers/execs: 43 per cent

Women hires in 2013: 45 per cent

Average weeks of fully paid paternity leave: 1

Average weeks of fully paid leave for adoptive parents: 6

Backup childcare: Yes

Sick childcare: Yes

Managers trained to hire/advance women: No

[Image via Shutterstock]