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Conference moira::parenting_v3

Title:Parenting
Notice:READ 1.27 BEFORE WRITING
Moderator:CSC32::DUBOIS
Created:Wed May 30 1990
Last Modified:Tue May 27 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1364
Total number of notes:23848

1143.0. "Working Mother magazine's 1991 BEST Companies" by KUZZY::KOCZWARA () Mon Sep 23 1991 09:03

    I received my October issue of Working Mother Magazine.  This issue
    contains their yearly list of the BEST Companies to work.  I recieved
    a slight shock, but not to surprised, because DIGITAL Equipment was
    not on the list of the best 85 companies to work for if you are
    a parent or working mother.  Last year I believe they were listed
    as one of the top ten. This past year an half has certainly
    changed most employees outlook on DEC.
    
    When I get the opportunity I'll  post the criteria and the top ten
    companies.                            
                                           
    Pat K.
    
    
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1143.1criteria and top 10TIPTOE::STOLICNYMon Sep 23 1991 09:1235
    You beat me to it, Pat!   I brought in the magazine this morning
    intent on starting a note on the topic.   I was slightly surprised
    as well but only from the standpoint that DIGITAL wasn't there _and_
    always had been.  I never felt that DIGITAL was outstanding in
    this area (personal situation aside - I received fairly good treatment
    with respect to working parttime), however, so am pleased to see the
    magazine's survey "tell it like it is".

    The criteria were (rated from 1 to 5):

    1.) Pay compared with competition: high, avg, or low
    2.) Opportunities for woman to advance
    3.) Support for child care
    4.) Family-friendly benefits: job-protected leave for childbirth, flextime,
    				  part-time, job-sharing, elder care, etc.

    The top 10 companies were:

    Beth Israel ****
    DuPont ***
    Fel-Pro ***
    Hewitt *
    HBO **
    IBM ****
    Merck *****
    Patagonia *
    SAS ***
    UNUM *

    * = no. of years on Working Mother's top 10.

    Carol


1143.2It's about time!CLUSTA::BINNSMon Sep 23 1991 09:1811
    I think it's about time DEC's self-congratulatory balloon was
    punctured. As I recall, Digital was usually the only one on that list
    that made no provision of any sort for child care. 
    
    Digital's benefits are mediocre, including those geared toward working
    parents -- neither the best nor the worst. Moreover, this long overdue
    fall from the grace of the famous Working Mother list is probably due
    mostly to the growth in numbers of companies who recognize the need for
    family oriented benefits.
    
    Kit
1143.3a few other tidbitsTIPTOE::STOLICNYMon Sep 23 1991 09:2326
    
    I found the following entries in this survey interesting.
    
    Computer/software companies in the top 85:
    
    Apple Computer
    IBM
    Hewlett-Packard
    Honeywell
    Lotus Development
    
    New England-based companies in the top 85:
    
    Aetna - Hartford, Ct.
    Ben & Jerry's - Waterbury, VT.
    Bright Horizons Children's Centers - Cambridge, MA
    John Hancock Financial Services - Boston, MA
    Lotus - Cambridge, MA
    Mass Mutual Life Insurance - Springfield, MA
    Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance - Hartford, CT.
    Traveler's Insurance - Hartford, Ct.
    Stride Rite - Cambridge, MA
    
    Oh, to be in the insurance business and live in Connecticut!
    
    Carol
1143.4TIPTOE::STOLICNYMon Sep 23 1991 09:2911
    re: .2 
    
    Interesting to note that a few of the companies in the top 10 (IBM and 
    Merck) as well as some of those in the top 85 (Procter & Gamble) make 
    it clear that the do "not want to be in the child care business".  This 
    has always been Digital's stand as well, I think.   However, these "top" 
    companies do make a commitment to the child care business by FUNDING 
    community centers in return for having employee's children given 
    priority for available spaces.
    
    Carol
1143.5other countries?KAOFS::M_FETTalias Mrs.BarneyMon Sep 23 1991 09:439
    Just thinking aloud here, I wonder if these lists would change
    in other countries, depending on how the local administration of any
    international company decides to implement the federal laws of the 
    country they are in. i.e. in Canada, most of the benefits we get
    at DEC are because of federal and provincial legislation in that area.
    DEC is not ALLOWED to do less. However, would the list still be
    the same? 
    
    Monica
1143.6CLUSTA::BINNSMon Sep 23 1991 11:335
    re:. 5
    
    Precisely.  Digital does the minimum it can get away with.
    
    Kit
1143.7Fall from Grace ...KUZZY::KOCZWARAMon Sep 23 1991 13:3720
    The Working Mother's list is ONLY based on U.S. companies.  
    Now, what I'd like to suggest is some recommendation to Digital by 
    us the working parents that would help get DEC back on being a
    progressive company that values and recognizes the work/life styles of 
    its diverse employees.  
    
    The other Big computer companies, going through the same hardships yet
    are still moving ahead and providing a conducive working environments
    for the two (single) working parent(s).  
    
    Gotta go listen to  DVN broadcast,
    
    Pat K.
    
    Should this be a separate note in Parenting?
    
    
    Pat K.
    
    
1143.8SRATGA::SCARBERRY_CIMon Sep 23 1991 14:262
    Maybe the companies offering the best benefits to working parents
    are the ones opting to keep or employ the best employees!
1143.9flextime, my foot...ICS::NELSONKMon Sep 23 1991 16:264
    Child care?  Flextime?  I'd just settle for not feeling guilty
    when I come dashing in at 9 because I've coped with a tantrum,
    a potty accident, a run in my hose, a lost contact lens, and a
    traffic jam on Rt. 128, all between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m....:-) :-)
1143.10Awareness?MCIS5::CORMIERTue Sep 24 1991 09:595
    I'm with you, .9  The look on "their" faces when I show up at 8:30! I
    know "they" are thinking "Why didn't you get up a little earlier?". If
    I got up any earlier, I wouldn't bother to go to bed at all!  A little
    consideration, a little sympathy, goes a long way. 
    Sarah