[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 145 (Friday, October 24, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        WORKING MOTHER'S 100 BEST COMPANIES FOR WORKING MOTHERS

    Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, yesterday afternoon, I 
attended the White House Conference on Child Care. Business, labor, and 
religious leaders will be sharing their strategies and successes for 
improving and expanding child care opportunities. This afternoon's 
discussion is entitled ``learning from what works.''
  In government, we can do no better than to look to the private and 
nonprofit businesses and organizations in our communities to learn what 
works. With today's focus on child care issues, I commend to my 
colleagues, this month's issue of Working Mother Magazine, and it's 
12th annual survey of the 100 best companies for working mothers.
  The companies included on the 100 best list are ones that provide 
working mothers with exceptional opportunities to contribute to the 
company's success, and to care for their families. Working Mother 
Magazine measures companies based on five criteria: pay, opportunities 
to advance, child care, flexibility, and other family friendly 
benefits.
  The 100 best companies have made a commitment to strengthening 
families and communities. At the same time, these companies are 
strengthening their bottom line. In order for our Nation to remain 
globally competitive in the 21st century, we must utilize all of the 
talents of all of our people. Working mothers have talents and 
abilities our country cannot afford to be without. The 100 best 
companies are utilizing creative, effective solutions to the problems 
working mothers face as they try to balance career and family concerns. 
By doing so, these companies profit as mothers are able to focus more 
energy and attention on their work.
  Making jobs work for women and their families is what these companies 
are all about. I am especially proud that 7 of the companies on the 100 
best list are based in my home State of Illinois. Each of the Illinois 
companies has taken steps to recognize the talents of working mothers, 
and to help them help their families. Among other accomplishments,
  Allstate Insurance Co. recently opened a $3 million child care center 
in Northbrook, IL, that not only provides child care at the company's 
headquarters, but also offers full day kindergarten and holiday, 
vacation, and backup care;
  Amoco Corp. provides elder and child care referral services that were 
used by over 6,000 employees last year, and provides reimbursements for 
child care expenses accrued due to travel or overtime;
  Leo Burnett Co., Inc., continues to promote working mothers to 
executive positions. Today, the president and the chief creative 
officer are women;
  Fel-Pro, Inc., offers family friendly programs ranging from an 8-week 
summer camp to a $1,000 savings bond for newborns. Fel-Pro has been 
included in the 100 best list since its inception years ago;
  First Chicago NBD Corp. has been improving on their already 
impressive array of services with financial support for adoptions, and 
benefits for part-time employees;
  Motorola, Inc., according to the magazine, ``remains the corporate 
leader in providing subsidized child care for employees' kids'';
  Northern Trust Corp. has doubled the number of employees working at 
home in the past year; and
  Sara Lee Corp. has a commitment to helping working mothers advance. 
Today, its general counsel, chief financial officer and treasurer, 
among others, are female.
  This list includes some of the most successful companies in the 
country, including the largest advertising firm in the country, and one 
of the Nation's oil companies. What each of these seven corporations 
has shown is that both companies and children benefit from policies 
that take not only the employee, but her whole family into account. 
Working mothers are an important asset to the Nation's employers. 
Strong families are an important asset to us all.
  I urge my colleagues to read this month's issue of Working Mother 
Magazine so that we can learn from industry leaders--we all benefit 
from policies that support working families.

                          ____________________