BMS, P&G tops for working mothers

New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble Co. made the top ten in Working Mother magazine's 16th annual list of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," a compilation of corporations that best recognize the value and needs of working families.

"With so many layoffs, those who remain work longer and harder hours with fewer resources. Today's technology expects us to work 24/7, and working mothers get hit the hardest," said Carol Evans, chief executive officer and president of New York-based Working Mother Media, which publishes Working Mother.

New criteria

Significant changes in the extensive application process for the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers this year focused on how well companies provide benefits to workers at lower incomes and job levels. According to Working Mother Editor Sharlene Breakey, companies face an ongoing challenge to provide an equitable distribution of flexibility and perks. "We raised the standards for the 100 Best this year, evaluating companies on how far benefits reach throughout the ranks. And, as always, we took a hard look at the areas of (a) percentage of women in the work force, (b) child care support, (c) flexibility, (d) leave for new parents, (e) work/life balance and (f) advancement of women," she said.

Added Evans, "Employees often report that flexibility and child care programs keep them from accepting other job offers. Therefore, leaders recognize that work/life programs have tremendous financial impact in terms of productivity and employee retention, and that a commitment to helping employees balance their personal responsibilities is a win-win."

Other pharmaceutical companies named to the top 100 were: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL; American Home Products Corp., Madison, NJ; Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis; Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA; GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC; Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, NJ; Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ; Merck & Co. Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., East Hanover, NJ; Pfizer Inc., New York; and Schering-Plough Corp., Kenilworth, NJ.

"The standards of excellence set by Working Mother magazine get higher every year, and we are delighted to be ranked among the 10 best companies for working mothers," said Stacey Gibson, director of work/life diversity for BMS. "The only way we can attract and engage committed, creative and diverse talent is to offer the very best benefits and programs that enhance both their business and personal lives." PR