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MPW100 Best Companies to Work For

10 best companies for women

By
Colleen Leahey
Colleen Leahey
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By
Colleen Leahey
Colleen Leahey
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 5, 2015, 7:59 AM ET
Novo Nordisk - Best Companies 2016
Darshana-Malavade-(DMLV)-+-Karin-Gillespie-(KGIL)-+-Margaret-Sciarrino-(MSIY) Novo Nordisk womenCourtesy of Novo Nordisk

It has become trendy for companies to boast publicly about their efforts to provide more female friendly perks. Increased maternity leave (both paid and unpaid), telecommuting, job sharing—the list goes on. And just last year Apple and Facebook began offering financial aid to female employees undergoing cryo-vitrification. The underlying goal? To attract and retain the best female talent in a highly competitive industry. As many types of companies try to increase workforce diversity, the industries that traditionally attract more women workers (such as health care) continue to thrive. Thanks to a mix of great benefits, stable career paths, and supportive cultures, women make up 45% or more of the leadership positions at these 10 companies.

1. Meridian Health

Women account for a whopping 80% of the health system’s workforce and fill 63% of leadership positions. “I feel very lucky to have a company that encourages women to work while having a family by providing affordable onsite child care,” says one employee.

See Meridian Health's other perks on our 100 Best Companies to work for list here.

2. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

The pediatric hospital offers $10,000 for adoption benefits, bountiful paid time off for new parents, telecommuting, job sharing, and flexible scheduling. “Children’s is geared toward family first, so there is never a hassle if you need time off,” says an employee.

See Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's other perks on our 100 Best Companies to work for list here.

3. Perkins Coie

Women occupy 68% of the law firm’s leadership positions. “I really appreciate the work-from-home option. In the past couple of years the company has made the work-remotely option a much easier way to work,” says one female employee. “I am fortunate the company encourages this.”

See Perkins Coie's other perks on our 100 Best Companies to work for list here.

4. Alston & Bird

Workers adore this global law firm, which, an employee says, “is wonderful about supporting new mothers and their needs once they return to work.” Another says, “The firm has helped me with elder care, child care, and adoption benefits. Because of this I give 200% at work.”

See Alston & Bird's other perks on our 100 Best Companies to work for list here.

5. Novo Nordisk

After one year of service, the pharma company offers an additional 12 weeks of bonding leave after short-term disability ends, including one week paid. “Management stresses to us to take vacations and not work on weekends. It’s is one of the reasons I love working here,” says a worker.

See Novo Nordisk's other perks on our 100 Best Companies to work for list here.

6. Baptist Health South Florida

Baptist offers a 50% 403(b) match up to 2% of salary—but it’s the culture that has female employees raving. Eighty-five% of employees say they’re encouraged to balance work responsibilities with personal ones. “We all have lives outside of work, and Baptist recognizes that,” says one.

See Baptist Health South Florida's other perks on our 100 Best Companies to work for list here.

7. Atlantic Health System

The hospital offers a wide variety of commitment levels for its workforce. “I have been able to work full-time, part-time, and per diem and back to full-time during the various stages of raising my family,” says an employee. “I want to give back to the organization because it has been so great to me.”

See Atlantic Health System's other perks on our 100 Best Companies to work for list here.

8. Scripps Health

Some 68% of Scripps’s leaders are women—and managers/directors receive average pay of roughly $124,800. Workers say the company exudes a communal feel. “There is a sense of family, and people go out of their way for others, whether it’s a co-worker or patient,” says one employee.

See Scripps Health's other perks on our 100 Best Companies to work for list here.

9. Nordstrom

About 60% of the retailer’s 61,666 workers in the U.S. are under 35. Besides health care for part-time employees who work 30 hours or more a week, Nordstrom empowers its workforce. “Nordstrom gives you the freedom to make decisions and find ways to make customers happy.”

See Nordstrom's other perks on our 100 Best Companies to work for list here.

10. Wellstar Health System

Women make up 82% of the hospital system’s workforce, and 54% of them have been at the hospital for more than five years. Great benefits, such as backup care, concierge services, and flexible hours, allow employees to concentrate free of distractions, says one employee.

See Wellstar Health System's other perks on our 100 Best Companies to work for list here.

See the full 100 Best Companies to work for list here.
Criteria: To determine the Best Companies for Women list we asked Great Place to Work to focus on the 100 Best Companies that have the highest female population as well as the most women in senior leadership and management positions. We included only companies that offer job sharing, telecommuting, and flexible scheduling options, as well as exemplary maternity and adoption benefits.

This article is from the March 15, 2015 issue of Fortune.

About the Author
By Colleen Leahey
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