Yahoo Finance The 50 Best Companies for Working Moms
More and more children are being raised in U.S. households with both parents working full time. In 2018, 63% of families had both parents employed. And gender norms are changing too: nearly 15 million American households are headed by women, with mothers serving as the breadwinner in half of families with children under the age of 18. However, many of these working moms are not provided the support necessary to be successful when it comes to balancing their family and career.
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States is the only OECD country that does not offer paid parental leave on a national basis. U.S. employees must rely on their companies and individual state laws to advocate for working moms and dads. States like California, New Jersey, Rhode Island and New York have already enacted paid family leave laws.
There are many clear advantages to paid parental leave, including an increase in employee morale, productivity and retention. This also helps with overall health for mother and baby. Companies like Capital One and JPMorgan Chase & Co. — and smaller employers like ConsumerTrack Inc. — have stressed the importance of family by focusing their efforts on providing a better environment for working parents to thrive.
Every year, Working Mother, a magazine for working moms, recognizes 100 U.S. companies for their push toward inclusion, parental leave, work flexibility and child care. Many of the employers listed have unique benefits to help working mothers cater to their families while having a successful career.
Here are 50 companies that made the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list for working parents.
Last updated: Aug. 27, 2020
1. ADP
ADP, a human-resources outsourcing firm, employs 32,094 people across the country. Employees can take a minimum of six full weeks of paid maternity leave, in addition to four weeks paid gender-neutral leave. Plus, ADP will give U.S. employees who work 20 hours or more per week 10 subsidized backup-care days per year. This includes day care or home-based care for children and adult family members when problems arise with normal care arrangements.
2. Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America is a leading provider of retirement solutions. Employees can take a minimum of four weeks of paid maternity leave and six weeks paid gender-neutral leave, as well as enrollment in a Healthy Pregnancy Program through the company medical plan. This program gives mothers access to health coaches during and after pregnancy. Allianz will also reimburse up to $250 a year for prenatal classes for pregnant employees and their spouses/partners.
3. Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida, a nonprofit healthcare organization and clinical care network based in the Sunshine State, has made the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list for the past 15 years. With over 19,000 U.S. employees, over 72% of this hospital system’s employees are women. Baptist Health South Florida only offers a minimum of one week of paid maternity leave; however, the organization purchased a 100-unit apartment complex near its campus for employees in need.
4. BDO USA
BDO USA offers accounting, tax, audit and consulting services across the country. This company provides an incredible Flex Connections database, which connects employees with professionals who are working with a formal flex arrangement. Flextime allows working parents to create a better work-life balance by allowing them to adjust the start and/or end time of their workday. A Midcareer Women’s Council was also formed at BDO USA, with many executives collaborating on how to better support its female employees.
5. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is a state-licensed private health insurance company under the Blue Cross Blue Shield umbrella. This company offers a unique opportunity for its employees and spouses by offering up to $7,500 for egg cryopreservation. This procedure involves preserving a woman’s eggs for a later date. BCBS of Massachusetts offers a generous 10 weeks paid maternity leave and four weeks of gender-neutral leave. The company was also named a member of the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index for its diversity and inclusion work.
6. Blue Cross North Carolina
Blue Cross NC is another private health insurance company under Blue Cross Blue Shield. Its Flexible Work Program allows employees to shift their scheduling and work from home or a satellite office. This company had 1,531 telecommuters in 2018, one-third of its entire workforce. Blue Cross NC is also a member of the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index and offers 12 weeks of paid gender-neutral leave.
7. Boehringer Ingelheim
Based in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Boehringer Ingelheim has been on the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) Top Companies for Executive Women for six years. The pharmaceutical company partners with Milk Stork, a no-cost breast-milk delivery service. When away on business, working mothers can safely ship their breast milk home for convenience. Boehringer Ingelheim even offers lactation rooms for mothers at off-site meeting locations.
8. Bon Secours Richmond Health System
Bon Secours Richmond Health System is a healthcare organization located in Richmond, Virginia. This company has emphasized recruiting women and people of color to join its workforce, as well as partnering with multicultural organizations. As a result, new hires were 83% women. Bon Secours Richmond Health System is also listed as one of the 2019 NAFE Top 10 Nonprofits for Executive Women.
9. Broad Institute
Broad Institute, a biomedical and genomic research center of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, offers its 1,629 U.S. employees a minimum of 12 weeks paid gender-neutral leave. The institute created a financial-assistance program to ensure that low- to moderate-income employees would not use more than 10% of their pay on child care.
Take a Look: The Most-Loved Company in Every State
10. Capital One
As a popular financial services company, Capital One provides moms with an easier transition back to work. With fully paid maternity and gender-neutral leave, working moms can take a total of 18 weeks to bond with their baby. Capital One also offers a phased return-to-work program, where employees can work only half of their regular schedules within the first 30 days of returning to work.
11. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
With 15 years on the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has supported consistent care for its working moms. This pediatric hospital offers a minimum of four weeks paid maternity leave, in addition to one week of gender-neutral leave. Its MomForce program allows women to reenter the workforce after an extended absence by providing contract work.
12. Colgate-Palmolive Company
Colgate-Palmolive is a household name focused on producing home, healthcare and personal care products. It has earned its spot on this list from several accolades, including the 2019 Best Companies for Multicultural Women, the 2019 Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index and a spot on the Working Mother Hall of Fame. Colgate-Palmolive’s WorkSmart program provides benefits such as telecommuting up to two days a week and flextime. Much of the salesforce works completely remote, while many plant workers have only a four-day workweek.
13. Dechert LLP
With a top spot on the Best Law Firms for Women list, Dechert LLP offers a generous eight weeks of paid maternity leave in addition to 12 weeks of paid gender-neutral leave. This new gender-neutral policy includes all new parents, including childbirth, adoption, surrogacy or fostering.
14. Digitas
Aside from being on the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index, Digitas allows employees to take six weeks of both paid maternity and gender-neutral leave. This digital marketing agency grants all regular full-time and part-time staff with over 10 years of service within the company to take a sabbatical leave. Employees may take a two-week sabbatical at 100% pay or a four-week sabbatical at 50% pay. You must wait another 10 years before you become eligible for another sabbatical.
15. Discovery Inc.
Another Hall of Fame recipient, this New York City-based media company also made the Working Mother Best Companies for Dads in 2018. Its headquarters provided a child care center for over 100 children since 2008, with employees rating it as one of the best benefits of the job. However, the child care center closed in 2019 and will open a new location in the Knoxville, Tennessee, office.
16. Dow Jones & Co.
Dow Jones & Co., a media, publishing and financial firm based out of NYC, offers a whopping 20 weeks of paid gender-neutral leave. Second caregivers can receive up to three weeks of paid parental leave, as well as apply to take additional leave during the baby’s first year of life.
17. Edelman
Edelman has spent six years on the NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women List. With a minimum of six weeks for both maternity and gender-neutral leave, this communications marketing firm also offers time off for the entire week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for quality family time. In spring 2019, Edelman launched an app-based mindfulness training program with a 95% satisfaction rate from employees.
18. Eli Lilly and Co.
This pharmaceutical company is a part of Working Mother’s Quarter-Century Club. Women made up 61% of the promotions to senior director or above within the company in 2017. As of January 2019, all new parents, including mothers, fathers, partners, adoptive and foster parents, are allocated 10 weeks of paid leave. Employees may also take an additional 10 weeks of unpaid leave to spend more time with their new child.
19. General Motors
General Motors, a popular vehicle manufacturer, calls America’s Motor City home. It was placed in the top 10% of the 2019 Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index. The company offers six weeks of paid maternity leave, in addition to two weeks of paid gender-neutral leave. Plus, General Motors has had a female CEO, Mary T. Barra, since 2014.
20. Hasbro
Hasbro, the largest toymaker in the world, is on the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list for the very first time this year. Moms can take a minimum number of 10 weeks of paid maternity leave. Fridays are always half-days at Hasbro, and employees get a full week of paid vacation between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It also doesn’t hurt that new hires get four weeks of vacation a year.
21. Herman Miller
Based in Zeeland, Michigan, Herman Miller is an office and home furnishings manufacturer that provides eight weeks of paid maternity leave. The Working Parents Group has created a meal train by providing food for new moms and dads returning to work.
22. JLL
JLL, a commercial real estate services firm, offers all new parents a unique tool called the Parent Experience. This online system advises parents on their benefits packages and flextime, as well as incorporating maternity, paternity and adoption guides.
23. JPMorgan Chase & Co.
With a spot on the Working Mother Hall of Fame, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has consistently supported its working moms. It offers 16 weeks of paid gender-neutral leave to primary caregivers and six weeks to secondary caregivers. What’s more, the investment and financial services company has introduced a Special and Learning Needs Program, where parents are given resources to better advocate and care for their children with special needs.
24. Katten
Last year, Katten was rated as one of the best law firms for women by Working Mother. Gender-neutral leave was expanded from 14 to 20 weeks in 2017, offering caregivers more time to bond with their child. The company has also created the Partner Pipeline Committee, which identifies women with potential for advancement to income and capital partner of the company.
25. Kimberly-Clark Corp.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a consumer-products company, has been in business for 147 years. The company offers a minimum of six weeks paid maternity leave, in addition to four weeks of paid gender-neutral leave. Kimberly-Clark has created a support group for parents and grandparents of children with mental illness. There are many other resources for parents, including the Parents Interactive Network and the Capabilities First Network, which is a resource for employees with disabilities.
26. Korn Ferry
This is the first time Korn Ferry has made the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list. This Los Angeles-based organizational consulting firm offers its 2,720 employees a minimum of eight weeks of maternity leave and 12 weeks of gender-neutral leave. Plus, Korn Ferry has partnered with Care.com to provide caregivers to employees with children, elderly relatives and pets.
27. Leo Burnett Group USA
This Chicago-based advertising company sets its employees up for success when transitioning back to work. It has an impressive phase back policy, which grants new parents flexible work schedules for up to two months following their parental leave.
28. Lexmark International
The laser printer and imaging-solutions manufacturer landed a spot on this list for its dedication to continual education. Lexmark International’s program, My Career Journey, provides online resources and tools catered toward professional growth and development.
29. L'Oréal USA
The beauty company prides itself on implementing flexible benefit options. L’Oréal USA’s 10,931 employees can enjoy a minimum of 10 weeks paid maternity leave and five weeks of paid gender-neutral leave.
Read: The 2020 Retail Apocalypse Claims Ann Taylor and 52 More of Your Favorite Brands
30. Marriott International
Marriott International is in Working Mother’s Hall of Fame and a member of the Quarter-Century Club. As of January 2019, this hospitality company offers eight weeks of paid leave for birth and adoptive parents. Birth mothers can secure an additional seven weeks with partial pay. Plus, Marriott provides $12,000 for adoption assistance.
31. MetLife
With six weeks of paid maternity leave and eight weeks of paid gender-neutral leave, MetLife’s 18,166 U.S. employees can spend ample quality time with their child. This life insurance company introduced a Moms Circle support group to help working moms thrive.
32. New York Life
New York Life, another life insurance company, is a leading organization in the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index for superior achievements related to diversity and inclusion work. It has increased its coverage for treatments related to autism, including diagnosis, speech and occupational therapy, and rehabilitation.
33. NewYork-Presbyterian
This is NewYork-Presbyterian’s first time on the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list. This nonprofit hospital offers six weeks of paid maternity leave and reimburses up to $15,000 toward adoption fees and surrogacy.
34. Novo Nordisk Inc.
Novo Nordisk Inc., a pharmaceutical company based out of New Jersey, provides 24/7 backup care. Backup care is temporary but can be used for children or adults. This particular benefit saved employees 43 days of work in 2018.
35. New York University Langone Health
The 28,568 employees of NYU Langone Health benefit from a minimum of six weeks paid maternity leave, in addition to three weeks of paid gender-neutral leave. This healthcare system has an on-site child care center with reduced rates for employees based on household income.
36. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
This law firm is setting up employees for success with its Pillsbury Anywhere initiative. This telework program provides attorneys and exempt employees the tools, equipment and resources needed to work from home.
37. Principal
Based in Des Moines, Iowa, this Working Mother Hall of Famer allocates a minimum number of six weeks paid maternity leave and four weeks paid gender-neutral leave. The financial investment management company provides a Flexible Time Off program, which does not track days off for exempt employees. Working moms and dads are encouraged to take time as needed.
38. Protiviti
Protiviti is a global consulting firm that offers a minimum of four weeks of paid maternity leave. Its sabbatical program grants employees up to three months of leave for personal growth, including travel and community service. This benefit is given to anyone below managing director status who has been employed for at least one year.
39. Publicis Sapient
Publicis Sapient landed on the NAFE’s Top Companies for Executive Women list for the first time this year. Labeled as a digital transformation company, it allocates a minimum of 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. What’s more, Publicis Sapient has a flexible vacation policy, which allows its 3,973 employees to take as much time as they need.
40. SC Johnson
This consumer-product manufacturer is part of the Working Mother Quarter-Century Club and Hall of Fame. SC Johnson is well-known for being a family company and offers a telecommuting program to its employees who live more than 20 miles away from its primary office. Working moms and dads can elect to work from home one day per week.
41. Starcom USA
Starcom USA prides itself on being a “human experience company.” It is one of the only companies on this list with a CEO and chief talent officer who are both women, offering a unique perspective for working moms. The New-Parent Transition Program grants new birth and adoptive parents a reduced work schedule for up to three months following their parental leave.
42. State Street
Based out of Boston, this bank-holding and financial services company offers a generous 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. State Street has changed its adoption-assistance program to give employees up to $20,000 per child in eligible expenses, which is a large jump from the previous allocation of $5,000.
43. Synchrony
Synchrony president and CEO Margaret Keane was named one of the most powerful women in finance by American Banker. This consumer financial services company allows its 10,140 U.S. employees to take a minimum number of six weeks for both paid maternity and gender-neutral leave. Synchrony also offers a fertility preservation benefit that includes egg freezing and retrieval regardless of an employee’s marital status or gender.
Check Out: 14 Top Companies That Lost Big Money in Lawsuits
44. Texas Instruments
You may be familiar with Texas Instruments’ calculators, but this American technology company has spent the last 14 years on the NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women list. It has introduced a “returnship” program called Encore, which helps professionals reintegrate back into the workforce after two years or more.
45. The Estée Lauder Companies
This is the beauty company’s first time on the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list. The Estée Lauder Companies has since expanded their paid gender-neutral leave from 12 to 20 weeks, while also allowing six extra weeks for work flexibility. It also provides adoption assistance and infertility benefits for up to $10,000 and $20,000, respectively.
46. Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
TIAA, an insurance service company, offers all of its full-time and part-time employees 16 weeks of paid gender-neutral leave. This parental leave includes birth, adoption or fostering.
47. Transamerica
Based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Transamerica allows its working moms to take a minimum of seven weeks of paid maternity leave. This life insurance company provides wellness coaching to all of its 7,699 U.S. employees, which includes resources and tools for living a healthier lifestyle.
48. UBS
This investment and financial services company provides a generous 20 weeks of paid gender-neutral leave. UBS’ Career Comeback program immediately places employees into full-time roles, which provides a fresh start for professionals who have been away from their careers for two or more years.
49. Voya Financial
This is Voya Financial’s first time on the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list. In addition to a minimum number of six weeks of paid maternity leave, this financial services firm partners with Wellthy, which offers personal healthcare assistance for employees and family members with chronic conditions.
50. Zoetis
Zoetis’ 4,562 U.S. employees are allocated a minimum of nine weeks of paid maternity leave and one week of paid gender-neutral leave. This global animal health company is focused on human health, too, by providing its employees with Virtual Doctor services. This gives employees access to doctors for nonemergency medical conditions.
More From GOBankingRates
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. As a result, some of the images may not reflect the companies listed in this article.
Disclaimer: GOBankingRates is owned and operated by ConsumerTrack Inc. The companies featured on this list were sourced from the 2019 Working Mother 100 Best Companies list. However, some of the information was sourced from individual company websites when applicable. This gallery only includes 50 of the 100 best companies from the Working Mother list. All data was compiled on Oct. 31, 2019.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The 50 Best Companies for Working Moms
