Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Working Mother Magazine Releases List of 100 Best Employers for Moms
TBO ^ | 9/24/02 | Rick Bersnak

Posted on 09/24/2002 4:29:04 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection

For companies trying to navigate a rocky economy, conventional business wisdom might dictate a no- or low-frills workplace.

But that's not the case at firms lauded in the October issue of Working Mother Magazine, which lists the results of its annual search for the 100 companies that treat working mothers best.

The magazine developed its list this year by focusing on companies that have not scaled back benefits because of the harsher economic climate, those that allow fathers to use family leave and employers who emphasize flexible scheduling. The businesses have found that helping parents find a balance between their careers and home life can pay handsome dividends, the magazine said.

"The highest cost that you have in the people area is turnover," said Steve Sanger, chairman and chief executive of Minnesota-based food maker General Mills Inc., which offers employees company-based infant care, a fitness center, prescription-filling and medical services.

"All these are things that just try to take the hassle out of people's lives," he said. "They end up being things that all employees value."

Hundreds of companies completed what Carol Evans, chief executive of Working Mother Media, called a rigorous application process to be considered for the list, drawn up by editors. Each firm was evaluated on what programs were available to working mothers and how many use them.

The top 10 employers cited by the magazine were: Abbott Laboratories, American Express, Bank of America, Booz Allen Hamilton, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Colgate-Palmolive, Computer Associates, Fannie Mae, General Mills and IBM, which has made the list for 17 years, longer than any other company.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: benefits; employersformom; feminism; scheduling
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

1 posted on 09/24/2002 4:29:04 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
No. 1 each and every year: Her family.

Moms, go home.

2 posted on 09/24/2002 5:01:30 AM PDT by Illbay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Short these stocks.
3 posted on 09/24/2002 5:04:17 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Best for mothers? Or best for the kids? I'll bet the two are not the same. And guess who ends up getting the short end of the stick...
4 posted on 09/24/2002 5:06:36 AM PDT by mewzilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: RiShi
Oh please. You sound just like a Taliban.

< YAWN>...zzzzzz

6 posted on 09/24/2002 5:16:52 AM PDT by Damocles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: RiShi
I don't have any problem with a private company putting in a day care provided it is done without compulsion.

Do you think private companies should have the freedom to discriminate against mothers or women in general?

7 posted on 09/24/2002 5:31:13 AM PDT by Tribune7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: RiShi
I don't care which parent stays home with the kids. It would just be nice to have one parent of either gender around for their children. I know that a lot of parents work to just keep a roof over everyone's heads and food on the table. But there are a lot of other families that have two parents working so that they can keep up with Joneses, and it's done at the kids' expense.
8 posted on 09/24/2002 5:37:02 AM PDT by mewzilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
Amen to that!
9 posted on 09/24/2002 5:38:29 AM PDT by Under the Radar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla
Dr. Laura typically reads faxes from people who took her up on her challenge to have mom quit work and stay home. In every instance the comment is the same: "We didn't think we could do it, until we realized that the amount of money we SAVED by Mom not having to work (daycare, clothing, pantyhose, lunch, transportation, etc.) made up for the 'lost' income."

Most of the time, the income "needed" goes for toys and gewgaws that aren't needs at all, but "keeping up with the Joneses." If we reorder our priorities from the material to (if you will) the spiritual, the problems are not insurmountable.

10 posted on 09/24/2002 5:42:28 AM PDT by Illbay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
My thoughts exactly.
11 posted on 09/24/2002 5:45:04 AM PDT by MadelineZapeezda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
My wife works for Booz Allen Hamilton, I don't see how we can "save" $$ by her not working...
12 posted on 09/24/2002 5:46:13 AM PDT by dakine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: dakine
Like I said, I guess it depends on what your priorities are.
13 posted on 09/24/2002 5:49:03 AM PDT by Illbay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
Supporting other family members, saving for retirement, yep, I got my priorities messed up....
14 posted on 09/24/2002 5:53:50 AM PDT by dakine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: dakine
I said nothing about your priorities being messed up. Why are you so sensitive?
15 posted on 09/24/2002 6:24:47 AM PDT by Illbay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
Not sensitive, just some families have to work for the $$...
16 posted on 09/24/2002 6:31:20 AM PDT by dakine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Illbay; dakine
I said nothing about your priorities being messed up. Why are you so sensitive?

Maybe because you and Dr. Laura think "one size fits all." Yes, it's best if the mom stays home. It's just not always possible.

17 posted on 09/24/2002 6:32:29 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: dakine
Well, it's your call. I'm just pointing out that part of the reason that families feel they "have to work for the $$" is the notion that we have to have certain "things" that in reality are not necessities at all.

I can't tell you if that fits your profile. Only you know that.

18 posted on 09/24/2002 6:33:18 AM PDT by Illbay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Illbay; dighton; Senator Pardek
"The highest cost that you have in the people area is turnover," said Steve Sanger, chairman and chief executive of Minnesota-based food maker General Mills Inc., which offers employees company-based infant care, a fitness center, prescription-filling and medical services.

What a special kind of place. I wonder if their palms start blinking when they turn 30.

19 posted on 09/24/2002 6:49:30 AM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Thinkin' Gal
People who put their companies ahead of their families deserve what they get. Sure, the company might provide all these goodies now, but what happens when you hit fifty, have kids ready to go off to college, and find out your company is about to downsize you and later replace you with some kid who costs less. And you shafted your kids for this...
20 posted on 09/24/2002 7:00:15 AM PDT by mewzilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson