SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JOB MARKET: WORK AND FAMILY : A RESOURCE GUIDE TO WORK AND FAMILY : FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMPANIES:
Working Mother magazine publishes an annual list of the best U.S. companies for working mothers. The 1991 survey, published in October, ranked 85 companies based on their “family-friendly” policies and benefits. The companies are judged on various criteria, including child care, flexible work schedules, job-protected maternity leave, adoption aid, elder care and advancement opportunities for women. California companies on the list and some of the benefits they offer:
--Apple Computer, Cupertino, personal computers: Employees get $500 for birth of each child; up to 8 1/2 months leave for childbirth; adoption aid of $3,000; 12 sick days per year for care of sick children; flexible work schedules.
--ARCO, Los Angeles, oil company: Leads oil industry in hiring and promotion of women. Offers six days off at full pay to care for ill child; flexible work schedules.
Genentech, South San Francisco, biotechnology: On-site child-care center for 180 children; childbirth leave up to four months; six weeks paid adoption leave; baby gifts of one share of stock.
--G.T. Water Products, Moorpark, drain-clearing products: On-site Montessori school for grades K-12; up to six months leave for childbirth; $500 gift to new mothers; adoption aid of $1,500.
--Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, computers and electronics: Nationwide research and referral service for both child care and elder care; flexible schedules; adoption aid of $2,500.
--Little Company of Mary Hospital, Torrance, hospital: Beepers for expecting fathers; breast pumps for nursing mothers; near-site child-care center for 55 children; on-site sick-child care and summer program; family and safety workshops.
--Lucasarts Entertainment Co., San Rafael, film production: Unpaid paternity leave of up to three months; childbirth leave up to four months; on-site child-care center for 15 children and near-site center for 28 children. Parents can use 10 sick days for care of sick child; flexible schedules.
--Morrison & Foerster, San Francisco, law firm: 19% of firm’s partners are women. Offers up to six months leave for childbirth for lawyers and up to 18 weeks for other staff; 10 family sick days, flextime.
--Pacific Gas & Electric, San Francisco, utility company: Childbirth leave up to one year; adoption aid of $2,000; flextime; work-at-home program; on-site child-care center for 75 children expected to open in spring, 1992.
--Patagonia, Ventura, outdoor clothing: Two on-site child-care centers; two-month paid maternity and paternity leaves; flextime; elder care; after-school and holiday programs for families; summer camp.
--Syntex, Palo Alto, prescription drugs, diagnostic systems and veterinary products: Near-site child-care center for 93 children; three personal days to care for sick child; up to 24 weeks leave for childbirth; $2,000 adoption aid; flextime.
--TRW Space & Defense, Redondo Beach, space and satellites: On-site day-care center for 204 children; support for before- and after-school programs for 1,000 children; flextime, including a pilot work-at-home program.
--Wells Fargo & Co., San Francisco, bank: Benefits plan allows employees to “buy” additional vacation days for more family time; 12 annual sick days for care of sick children; reimbursements for child-care costs caused by overtime work or business travel; flextime.
