NEW YORK, NY (September 24, 2019)—Working Mother revealed its annual list of the 2019 100 Best Companies today, representing more than 2 million employees in the U.S. This year’s winners are focusing on inclusive benefits for families, including gender-neutral parental leave, gradual phase-back after leave, and accessible, affordable childcare. L.E.K. Consulting was among the 100 companies that earned a spot on this year’s list.
“We are delighted to be named again as one of the 100 Best Companies by Working Mother. The commitment to value to our clients is dependent upon our people. We recognize the importance of supporting and empowering employees who are also parents as they balance the joys and demands of both work and family while also growing their careers,” said Robert Rourke, President of L.E.K. Consulting’s Americas region.
“Our 100 Best Companies are the standard of excellence and continue to pave the way with the work they are doing on behalf of working parents and caregivers in the U.S.,” says Subha Barry, president of Working Mother Media. “We celebrate their efforts and applaud them for addressing the needs of this important and ever-growing sector of talent.”
Key findings from the 2019 100 Best Companies Data Snapshot:
- The average number of fully paid weeks of maternity leave by the 100 Best Companies is 11 weeks, compared with an average of four weeks nationally (according to the Society for Human Resource Management).
- Companies are continuing to move toward gender-neutral parental leave: 57 percent of Working Mother 100 Best Companies offer the same number of weeks for moms’ and dads’ leave.
- 31 percent of the 100 Best Companies’ women employees participate in a leadership-development program; 33 percent of their women employees participate in one-on-one formal mentoring.
- 98 percent of the 100 Best Companies offer flextime, with 79 percent of employees using it; 99 percent offer telecommuting, with 54 percent of women employees taking advantage of it.
- 75 percent of the 100 Best Companies offer sick-child care, and 94 percent have backup/emergency childcare.
“Parents are speaking out more than ever before about what they need in order to succeed at work and at home, and employers are paying attention,” says Meredith Bodgas, editor-in-chief of Working Mother. “By implementing family-friendly policies such as flexible schedules, paid parental leave, post-leave phase-back periods and mentoring programs, our 100 Best Companies are taking the needs of their employees into consideration in order to create a supportive, inclusive and productive environment.”
ABOUT THE METHODOLOGY
The 2019 Working Mother 100 Best Companies application includes more than 400 questions on leave policies, workforce representation, benefits, childcare, advancement programs, flexibility policies and more. It surveys the availability and usage of these programs, as well as the accountability of the many managers who oversee them. 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 2018 data.
ABOUT WORKING MOTHER MEDIA
Working Mother Media (WMM), a division of Bonnier Corp., publishes Working Mother magazine and its companion website, workingmother.com. The Working Mother Research Institute, the National Association for Female Executives, Diversity Best Practices and Culture@Work are also units within WMM. WMM’s mission is to serve as a champion of culture change, and Working Mother magazine is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
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 1,400 professionals across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. For more information, go to www.lek.com.
PRESS CONTACT
Stefanie McNamara, 212-779-5119, stefanie.mcnamara@bonniercorp.com