On the 20th anniversary of the Working Mother 100 Best Companies, an exclusive Working Mother magazine survey has found that despite the growing popularity of compressed work weeks, job-shares, telecommuting and other workplace flexibility options, two out of three working mothers believe there is still a stigma attached to using flextime options that their companies allow. Shawnee Mission Medical Center is one of the companies working to eliminate this bias by offering its working mother associates not just flexibility, but advancement opportunities as well. The hospital was the only organization in Kansas or Missouri to be honored with the designation of a 100 Best Company.
“We salute Shawnee Mission Medical Center for their efforts on behalf of working mothers, and for making the 100 Best for the first time,” said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media. “It is my hope that other companies around the country learn from the best and experience first-hand the value of flexibility as a business imperative.”
In surveying the companies that applied for this year’s list, particular weight was given to questions in three areas: flexible scheduling, the most critical benefit for working mothers; child-care options, because without them parents can’t work; and time off for new parents, because it’s critical for mothers to bond with their newborns without suffering professionally.
“I am thrilled that Shawnee Mission Medical Center has been recognized as one of the country’s leaders in offering programs that assist our associates in obtaining a balance between work and family life,” said Samuel H. Turner, Sr., hospital President and CEO. “Our associates are our most valued assets, and we recognize the importance of supporting their dedication to both their careers and their families. We have found that investments such as our on-site Child Care Center allow our associates to feel more comfortable knowing their children are being cared for in a loving environment, which leads to increased associate satisfaction and improved performance during the work day.”
To apply for the Working Mother 100 Best, Shawnee Mission Medical Center provided Working Mother magazine with detailed information on eight areas of work/life including: childcare, culture, flexibility, parental leave, women’s advancement, total compensation, work/life culture and family-friendly programs. The hospital completed a 550-question application, the most rigorous of its kind, which checked the availability, tracking and usage of programs to support working mothers, the accountability of managers to implement programs and the successful advancement of women into top paying jobs, Board positions and management ranks. Shawnee Mission Medical Center was also required to submit benefits handbooks and results of employee surveys.
“The Center was a large reason in why I decided to work at Shawnee Mission Medical Center and became a determining factor in why I’ve chosen to stay here for more than 15 years,” said SMMC associate Julie Williamson, RN. “As a parent, I was always encouraged to drop by and see my children, and I was able to breastfeed on my breaks. I can’t think of a better situation for a working mother to be in.”
The complete list of the Working Mother 100 Best Companies can be found at www.workingmother.com.