For many women, being a mom doesn't mean giving up a full-time career. For some, working is essential to pay the bills, while others just love the thrill and challenge of their job. Of course, being a mom in the workplace isn't always easy, and juggling time with the kids and time with your clients is always a struggle. Luckily, Working Mother magazine recently released a list of the 100 best companies for working moms. Does yours make the cut, or is time to seek employment elsewhere?
Bank of America, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, employs nearly 250,000 people – and 60 percent of them are women. The company is known for its mom-friendly policies, like allowing employees to file for the bank's own hardship assistance if a spouse is laid off or if the family falls on tough financial times.
Consulting firms like Booz Allen Hamilton and Bain & Co. also make the list. Consulting is a high-demand job for a type-A woman, and these companies understand that – which is why they work so hard to make it easy for working moms to be the best they can be at their job and at home.
The Minneapolis-based company General Mills is a venerable institution that's a great place for young moms to get their start – and stick around for years, maybe even decades. The company allows very flexible scheduling and even gives families time off for adoptions, as well as births.
Being a mom and working at the same time may not be easy, but it doesn't have to be tough, either. With more and more companies realizing that women want – and are willing to work for – it all, they're striving to make sure their female employees don't have to choose between family and career.