Working Mother names Grant Thornton one of its “Best Companies for Dads”

Firm earns first-time spot on publication’s second-annual list  

CHICAGO — Grant Thornton LLP is one of Working Mother magazine’s “Best Companies for Dads,” a list celebrating 50 organizations that lead in areas of paternity and gender-neutral parental leave, flexible schedules, phase-back programs for dads and more.

“Parents with careers want employers who support them at home and at work – that’s why we offer paid parental leave, telecommuting, flexible work arrangements and discounts for childcare,” said Brenda Wagner, chief people and culture officer of Grant Thornton. “We’re honored to be recognized by Working Mother for the benefits and employment arrangements and opportunities we provide to working moms and dads alike. It’s how we all succeed.”

Highlights of the 2019 Best Companies for Dads list:

• All companies recognized offer paternity leave versus 27 percent nationally*.
• Fifty-seven percent offer fully paid gender-neutral parental leave for an average of 10 weeks.
• Ninety-seven percent offer phase-back programs to dads after parental leave with an average of 17 weeks, and 69% offer full pay during the phase-back period.
• Ninety-seven percent offer backup childcare, and 91% give employees days for sick-child care.
• All offer telecommuting versus 69% nationally*, and an average of 71% of men telecommute at least some of the time.
• An average of 73% of men use flexible schedules, and 91% of CEOs of the Best Companies for Dads personally use flexible work hours.
  

*Source: Society for Human Resource Management

“We created the Best Dads list to applaud trendsetting companies that are listening to their employees and leading the way for other top employers,” says Subha V. Barry, president of Working Mother Media. “The data is clear. Dads who have the flexibility to do their part in parenting and caregiving provide support that is so important to a working mom’s success.”

To determine this list, the Working Mother Research Institute examined answers to questions related to dads submitted to the application for Working Mother’s annual 100 Best Companies. Those questions include paternity leave, adoption leave, surrogacy and fertility benefits, phase-back-to-work programs, childcare options and employee-resource groups for men. Fifty companies had scores high enough to qualify for the list this year, up from 35 organizations in 2018.

About Working Mother Media

Working Mother Media (WMM), a division of Bonnier Corp., publishes Working Mother magazine and its companion website, workingmother.com. The Working Mother Research Institute, the National Association for Female Executives, Diversity Best Practices and Culture@Work are also units within WMM. WMM’s mission is to serve as a champion of culture change, and Working Mother magazine is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

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