SC Johnson Named a Best Company for Busy, Working Moms for 22nd Time

RACINE, Wis., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Women make up nearly half of the U.S. labor force and roughly 66 percent of women with children age 17 and younger work full- or part-time*. As more women enter the workplace, SC Johnson continues to be a best place for working moms. Recognized by Working Mother Magazine for being one of the nation's top companies for working moms, SC Johnson celebrates its 22nd year of being named to the list. This is the 25th year Working Mother Magazine has identified the best companies for working moms.

"SC Johnson is pleased to be recognized by Working Mother for our commitment to retaining and building upon programs and benefits that help working parents find the right worklife balance," said Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson. "Sustaining a family-focused culture where people can be productive and well-balanced is fundamental to our success. SC Johnson applauds those companies that are moving forward with their business goals while also providing families the support they need. We are thrilled to be included in this list."

According to the Pew Research Center Study*, 40 percent of working moms say they always feel rushed but are no less happy than moms who don't work. Understanding the challenges that working moms face helps SC Johnson recruit and retain a strong workforce. As part of this year's recognition, Working Mother gave particular weight to benefits, flexibility and parental leave, all of which are available to working parents at SC Johnson.

While the Working Mother 100 Best Companies continue expanding their benefits, those at companies nationwide** lag. Just 44 percent of American companies offer telecommuting (vs. 100 percent of the 100 Best), 17 percent offer formal mentoring (vs. 95 percent), and 37 percent offer health insurance for part-timers (vs. 100 percent). In contrast, SC Johnson, and all of the 100 Best Companies, offer paid maternity leave, lactation rooms, flextime, mental health consultations and elder-care resources; and 98 percent offer health screening and wellness programs—particularly significant in a stress-inducing, poor economy.

"Twenty-five years ago, we made a bold decision to launch our Best Companies initiative and challenge businesses to address the unique needs of working mothers," said Carol Evans, President, Working Mother Media. "The immense influx of women into the workforce demanded changes in workplace culture as companies strove to keep working moms' talent and loyalty. Today, we celebrate our winners' untiring commitment to their employees through an impressive array of programs." 

"Families are important to us – SC Johnson's family history is part of the foundation that makes us a great place to work," said Gayle Kosterman, Executive Vice President – Worldwide Human Resources for SC Johnson. "The various programs we offer are in place to help people balance their lives, which in turn, contributes to the company's overall success."

Profiles of the 100 Best Companies, as well as national comparisons, are in the October issue of Working Mother and at workingmother.com/bestcompanies  

About the Methodology

Companies were selected for the 2010 Working Mother 100 Best Companies based on an extensive application with more than 600 questions on workforce, compensation, child care, flexibility programs, leave policies and more. It also surveys 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, benefits, women's issues and advancement, child care, flexible work, parental leave and company culture. For this year's 100 Best, particular weight was given to benefits, flexibility and parental leave. 

For more information on applying for the 2011 Working Mother 100 Best Companies, visit www.wmmsurveys.com The 2011 online application will be available in mid-December and due by early March 2011.  All companies that apply, including those that don't make the 100 Best list, receive feedback showing how they compare with all other applicants.

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 124-year-old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

About Working Mother Media

Working Mother magazine reaches 2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers; WorkingMother.com brings to the Web home and career information, advice and a broad range of solutions daily. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Working Mother's signature research initiative, Working Mother 100 Best Companies, the most important benchmark for work-life practices in corporate America. Working Mother Media, a division of Bonnier Corp. (www.bonnier.com), includes the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE, www.nafe.com), Diversity Best Practices (www.diversitybestpractices.com), the WorkLife Congress and the Multicultural Women's Conference and Leadership Summits. Working Mother Media's mission is to serve as a champion of culture change.

SOURCE SC Johnson