2011 marks the centenary celebration of International Women's Day - a 100 years over which the world has seen women emerging from disenfranchised status to one where they have representation in the top ranks in diverse spheres - in governments, industry, education, sciences and other social sectors.
Incidentally, this year Women's Day focuses on the theme Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women
(Also check out: Five Women CEOs who inspire)
As we celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of the truly fairer sex, and explore ways that will enable better employment opportunities for them, here is a look at the top 10 among the most recent Fortune list of '100 Best Companies to Work for,' in terms of proportion of women in the workforce.
Take a brief look here at what makes these companies such great places to work in:
Massachusetts-based Bright Horizons is a relatively young company; founded in 1986, it is a leading provider of employer-sponsored child care. With businesses in the U.S., Europe and Canada, it has created employer-sponsored child care and early education programs for more than 700 clients, including more than 90 among the Fortune 500 companies.
95 per cent of its employees are women; easy transfer opportunities, onsite childcare and eligibility for childcare discounts are some of the factors that make the company a great employer for women.
ReutersOhioHealth is a family of not-for-profit, faith-based hospitals and healthcare organizations serving patients in central Ohio since the late nineteenth century. The Columbus, Ohio based company has 88 per cent women employees, who enjoy the availability of various work-shifts and scheduling options. The most common position held is that of Nurse Manager.
As an organization, OhioHealth has unique recognition opportunities and events many of which strike a special chord with women; take for example, the annual associate shopping trip for associates on certain landmark years of service. Awardees receive a paid day of shopping, entertainment and recognition. Along with their day of shopping, they also receive a cash award and a service pin for the years served.
Moreover, there are several family-oriented events – for example, once a year associates and their families are invited to a special event, such as a free day at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium enjoying a complimentary lunch and a variety of music and family activities sponsored by OhioHealth.
ReutersThe people of Taree and District are the latest to benefit from Federal Government's ongoing investment in regional Australia with the official opening of the $6 million Manning Education Centre, a multi-purpose medical education facility in Taree.
ReutersIt’s a company where the age of the typical customer is 10 or below and a quarter of the workforce is below 25 years of age. Founded by Maxine Clark in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide are over 400 in number today, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Mexico and the Middle East.
86 per cent of its employees are women who enjoy the options of job sharing and compressed work weeks; in fact, 80 per cent of employees work part-time, and those averaging 20-plus hours can get health insurance. The “World Bearquarters” (Headquarters) in St. Louis, MO combines serious business with an informal, happy and homely culture, where you can even take your pet to work alongside the ‘Chief Executive Dog.’
ReutersThose aspiring for medical school can look forward to several changes in the MCAT - the test for admissions to medical colleges in the U.S.ReutersWinchester is a community hospital serving the northwestern suburbs of Boston, providing acute care inpatient services and integrated home care. The hospital has also been on Boston Business Journal's list of Best Places to Work for seven years in a row.
Women comprise 84 per cent of those on the rolls and have the benefits of onsite child care, job sharing programs, telecommute and compressed work weeks.
ReutersThe leading pediatric hospital of the country, known for its cancer, cardiac, neo-natal intensive and emergency care, has one of the most engaged employee forces anywhere in the world. Fortune reports that since 2005, workers have donated $2.1 million in cash to the hospital.
82 per cent of employees are women and enjoy the convenience of onsite child care. They also have options of job sharing and telecommute.
ReutersArkansas Children's Hospital, a private, nonprofit institution, is the only pediatric medical center in the state. 80 per cent of employees are women, who enjoy onsite day care for children, flexible work scheduling and various sponsored employee events that include family fun such as baseball in June, an annual employee/family picnic in late summer and annual holiday recognition programs.ReutersMeridian Health has consistently been rated among the top performing health systems in New Jersey for clinical quality and the largest employer in Monmouth and Ocean counties, with over 11,000 team members.
80 per cent of Meridian employees are women and the organization offers various voluntary programs and services designed to provide personal and professional support to help balance their home and work responsibilities. These include onsite early education and childcare centers, Circles – a free personal concierge service that provides access to a professional personal assistant, 24 hours a day, every day of the year and also Carebridge – a resource and referral service that provides skilled, professional counseling to help manage family and personal issues.
ReutersThe Portsmouth hospital, providing emergency and surgical care as well as a wide range of other health-care services employs over 2000 full- and part-time people. 80 per cent of the workforce is comprised of women. Apart from flexible work options and sick child care, employees also have the option of $3,500 in adoption aid.Reuters
