NEW YORK, NY (September 28, 2021) – Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media) revealed its fourth annual list of the 2021 Best Companies for Dads today. This year’s winners are focusing on inclusive benefits for families, including paid gender-neutral parental leave, backup childcare, and how these organizations supported their employees throughout COVID-19. L.E.K. Consulting was among the companies that earned a spot on this year’s list.

“L.E.K. is honored to be included on Seramount’s Best Companies for Dads list again this year,” said Robert Rourke, President of L.E.K. Consulting’s Americas region. “Supporting and empowering our working parents has been – and will continue to be – of utmost importance at L.E.K. We’re committed to providing the types of programs that allow families to thrive and succeed both at work and at home.”

“Dads continue to be outspoken about wanting to be equal partners when it comes to parenting responsibilities and needing the flexibility from their employer in order to do so,” says Subha V. Barry, President of Seramount. “Our Best Companies for Dads are listening to their employees. They’ve made their leave policies more inclusive and have increased the support offered to families during a time when parents and caregivers are constantly juggling home and work life.”

Key findings from the 2021 Best Companies for Dads:

  • Companies continue to move toward gender-neutral parental leave: 88 percent of this year’s winners offer fully paid, gender-neutral parental leave compared to 63 percent of winners a year ago. The remaining 12 percent offer fully paid paternity leave.
     
  • Seventy-five percent of winning companies offer phase-back programs after leave (compared to 38 percent of last year’s winners).

This year Seramount added specific questions about how organizations helped parents and caretakers with time off, flexible hours, and other benefits during COVID-19. There is a significant difference between the responses of companies that made the list and those that didn’t, showcasing how this year’s Best Companies for Dads pivoted to help working families.

  • Seventy-five percent of Best Companies for Dads gave employees extra time off in 2020 because of COVID-19.
     
  • Sixty percent of Best Companies for Dads increased health insurance coverage for employees and/or dependents as a result of COVID-19.
     
  • Eighty-two percent of Best Companies for Dads increased mental-health coverage for employees and/or dependents as a result of COVID-19.
     
  • Sixty-two percent of Best Companies for Dads increased childcare reimbursements because of COVID-19.

ABOUT THE METHODOLOGY
The 2021 Seramount Best Companies for Dads application includes more than 400 questions related to leave policies, benefits, childcare, flexibility, employee-resource groups for men and working parents, and more. It surveys the availability and usage of these programs, as well as the accountability of the many managers who oversee them. This year we added specific questions about how organizations helped parents and caretakers during COVID-19. All applicants receive feedback showing how they compare with other applicants; however, the names of applicants that do not make the list are kept confidential. Company profiles and data come from submitted applications and reflect 2020 data.

ABOUT L.E.K. CONSULTING
L.E.K. Consulting is a global management consulting firm that uses deep industry expertise and rigorous analysis to help business leaders achieve practical results with real impact. We are uncompromising in our approach to helping clients consistently make better decisions, deliver improved business performance and create greater shareholder returns. The firm advises and supports global companies that are leaders in their industries – including the largest private- and public-sector organizations, private equity firms, and emerging entrepreneurial businesses. Founded in 1983, L.E.K. employs more than 1,600 professionals across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. For more information, go to www.lek.com

ABOUT SERAMOUNT
Seramount, now part of EAB, is a strategic professional services firm dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Over four decades, partnering with some of the most iconic companies in the world, we’ve built a deep, data-driven understanding of the employee experience, which lays the groundwork for everything we do. Our comprehensive DE&I toolkit includes actionable research and insights, membership, strategic guidance and consulting, and inspiring events, meeting each client’s needs no matter where they are on their journey and guiding them along an ever-changing landscape. Seramount has empowered over 450 organizations to realize the business benefits of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more at seramount.com.

PRESS CONTACT
Michael-Jon Romano, Allison+Partners, michael-jon.romano@allisonpr.com
Stefanie McNamara, stefanie.mcnamara@seramount.com