Valassis Once Again Named as Working Mother 100 Best Company

LIVONIA, Mich., Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Valassis (NYSE: VCI), a leader in intelligent media delivery, announced today that it has been named as one of the 2013 Working Mother 100 Best Companies for the fifth time. Valassis was recognized with this prestigious award in 2012, 2011, 2000 and 1999. Additionally, the company has been named to the Working Mother list of Best Companies for Hourly Workers for the last three consecutive years, and in 2012, as a "Top 50 Company for Executive Women" by the National Association for Female Executives.

"Working moms at Valassis exhibit our core values at home and at work - agility, ownership and certainly passion," said Leslie Lenser, Valassis Senior Vice President of Human Resources. "We're proud to once again be named to this prestigious list because of our workplace practices, including our commitment to flexibility."

Working Mother rewards companies for their wide array of progressive workplace programs, including flexibility, advancement, paid family leave, child care, benefits and work/life programs. This is the 28^th year Working Mother has recognized organizations for their initiatives.

With programs in place supporting work/life balance, Valassis offers flexible work hours, child care reimbursement, a complimentary car seat for newborns, college care packages and convenience services like on-site fitness centers, family rooms and dry cleaning services. Additionally, there is a resource and referral network available to associates as well as a host of discounts and giveaways to area events for associates and their families. Valassis also offers an adoption assistance program, offering up to $5,000 toward the adoption of a child. For the sixth consecutive year, Valassis has been named to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's 2013 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List. The company has been included on this prestigious list each year since its inception, and this year, ranked third on the advertising, marketing and public relations industry list.

Emily Ferreira, Valassis Vice President, Transformational Leadership, was recently chosen as the 2013 Valassis Working Mother of the Year in an inaugural internal contest. She was selected as a result of a company-wide  program held in May and was nominated for being a mentor, a change maker, and an inspiration at Valassis, while being an inspirational mom to her four children.

"There are so many successful working mothers at Valassis, many of those whom are friends that have been sharing advice with me since the birth of my first child nine years ago," Ferreira said. "I am humbled to be selected by my peers and excited to work for a company that recognizes working mothers."

Carol Evans, president of Working Mother Media, says, "Now in its 28^th year, the Working Mother 100 Best Companies are leaders in building initiatives that truly support all employees. They are the vanguard of successful companies, with modern policies for American families. That's why we are launching National Flex Day on October 15. It's time for employees and their companies to step out from the shadows and embrace workplace flexibility as a core business strategy that will enable them to compete and succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy."

At Valassis, associates can participate in the company's FlexPlace program which offers flexibility ranging from working at home full-time, part time or maintaining flexible schedules.

"We have made workplace flexibility our platform to heighten the message that as many as 30 million Americans work from home at least one day a week and yet it is the most misunderstood workplace practice in our culture," said Jennifer Owens, editorial director of Working Mother Media. "Not only do all of Working Mother 100 Best Companies offer flex to their employees, they understand what a positive influence it has had on productivity, morale and motivation."

To view the full list of Working Mother's 2013 100 Best Companies, visit http://www.workingmother.com/best-companies/2013-working-mother-100-best-companies.  The 100 Best Companies are featured in the October/November issue of Working Mother and on workingmother.com. Also this year, in honor of the 100 Best Companies, Working Mother has declared October 15^th as the first annual National Flex Day to encourage support for workplace flexibility.

About Valassis
Valassis (NYSE: VCI) is a leader in intelligent media delivery, providing over 15,000 advertisers proven and innovative media solutions to influence consumers wherever they plan, shop, buy and share.  By integrating online and offline data combined with powerful insights, Valassis precisely targets its clients' most valuable shoppers, offering unparalleled reach and scale.  Valassis subsidiaries include Brand.net, a Valassis Digital Company, and NCH Marketing Services, Inc. Valassis consumer brands include RedPlum® and save.com. Its signature Have You Seen Me?® program delivers hope to missing children and their families. To learn more, visit Valassis.com.

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SOURCE Valassis