GlaxoSmithKline named to Working Mother "100 Best Companies" list
For the 16th year, GSK is recognized for encouraging and facilitating mothers’ return to the workforce
US Media inquiries:
Michael McTigue
(215) 751 7709
Philadelphia, PA– September 25, 2007
For the sixteenth consecutive year, GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) has been named one of the “100 Best Companies” by Working Mother magazine, the company announced today. In 2006, GSK was inducted into the Working Mother Hall of Fame in recognition of its fifteenth consecutive year on the list.
“Every year our winning companies raise the bar for what it means to be an employer of choice for working families,” said Carol Evans, CEO and President, Working Mother Media. “GlaxoSmithKline not only offers essential benefits like flextime and telecommuting—they go above and beyond with a range of best practices and policies to ease the difficulties for working parents and their families. Their supportive culture makes a huge difference to employees who want to be great moms and great workers.”
Added Suzanne Riss, Editor-in-Chief of Working Mother magazine, “As a working mother myself, I understand how absolutely essential it is for companies to find ways to nurture the personal and professional lives of employees. I commend GSK for conceiving and effectively implementing programs and benefits that offer an inspiring paradigm for the rest of corporate America: it is possible to be both family-friendly and financially successful.”
Working Mother measures and scores companies in seven areas when compiling its list of the best companies for mothers: workforce profile, compensation, child care, flexibility, time off and leaves, family-friendly programs, and company culture. Profiled in the October issue, GSK fosters an environment and culture that recognizes the professional and personal needs of all employees—including working mothers.
GSK was selected for the 2007 Working Mother 100 Best Companies based on an extensive application of 575 questions. The application included detailed questions about workforce, compensation, child-care and flexibility programs, leave policies, and more. It also checked the usage, availability and tracking of programs, as well as the accountability of managers who oversee them. Seven areas were measured and scored: workforce profile, compensation, child care, flexibility, time off and leaves, family-friendly programs, and company culture. For this year’s 100 Best, particular weight was given to flexibility and family-friendly policies.
“We are proud and honored to be included in the Working Mother “100 Best Companies” list again this year,” said Ann Kuhnen, Vice President, Employee Health Management Shared Services. “GSK is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining talented individuals, and we are pleased that the success of our efforts is once again recognized by Working Mother.”
For example, GSK offers a number of attractive options to help employees balance their professional lives with their personal responsibilities. Today, many women find it difficult to return to the workforce after having children—or staying out of the workforce longer than expected.1
“At GSK, more than half of our employees are women, so we have a vested interest in encouraging them to return to work after having children—and facilitating that process,” Kuhnen said. GSK has seen significant improvement in its employees' work/life balance by offering flexible work schedules, including telecommuting, job-sharing, and flextime. In addition, employees have access to company-sponsored on- or near-site child care centers. Partial reimbursements are available for in-home backup and sick-child care and for backup care at any sponsored center.
One of the themes of the October issue of Working Mother is benefit equity: at the 100 Best, benefits are available to everyone—from the top executives to hourly-wage earners. To illustrate that point, the issue features a profile of Azalea Manley, a manufacturing operator in GSK’s Zebulon, North Carolina, plant.
GSK also offers a number of development programs for its female employees, including the Accelerated Women's Leadership Program, the Women’s Leadership Initiative for women in sales, and Women in Science for those working in research and development.
In addition to recognition by Working Mother, GSK has also earned a perfect score (100%) in the US Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2007 “Best Places to Work” and an Excellence Award from the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy. Earlier this month, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center named GSK as a finalist for a Corporate Citizenship Award in the category of International Community Service. The winner will be announced on November 7.
About Working Mother
Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches nearly 3 million readers and is the only national magazine for career mothers. Its 22-year signature initiative, Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America. The publication also releases the annual list of the Best Companies for Multicultural Women in the June issue. Working Mother is published by Working Mother Media (WMM), which also owns the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), NAFE Magazine, the annual 100 Best Companies WorkLife Congress, as well as the Best Companies for Multicultural Women Conference and regional Town Halls. In 2006, WMM acquired Diversity Best Practices, the preeminent organization for diversity thought leaders.
About GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline—one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies—is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information, visit GlaxoSmithKline on the World Wide Web at www.gsk.com.
Editor’s Note: For more information on the 2007 Working Mother 100 Best Companies and for a complete list of winners, visit www.workingmother.com.
1. McGrath M, Driscoll M, Gross M. “Back in the Game—Returning to Business After a Hiatus: Experiences and Recommendations for Women, Employers, and Universities.” WhartonCenterfor Leadership and Change. June 2005.
