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Carolina Parent Honors 2008 N.C. Family-Friendly 40

Media Contact:
Robin Hutchison (rhutchison@carolinaparent.com; 919.956.2430)

To recognize North Carolina companies that offer outstanding family-friendly options, Carolina Parent magazine and our sister publications in Charlotte and the Triad announce our 10th annual N.C. Family-Friendly 40 list in our September magazines and online.

Small businesses, as well as large corporations, are highlighted for their readiness to listen and respond to parents’ needs as they strive to balance work and family. The selection process starts with a simple nomination form, and companies are contacted to gather additional information about their benefits and work environment. The N.C. Family-Friendly 40 Companies of 2008 were selected in partnership with UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

The 40 companies are highlighted in the September issues of all three Carolina Parenting magazines: Carolina Parent in the Triangle, Piedmont Parent in the Triad and Charlotte Parent. The magazines have a combined monthly readership of more than 332,000.

This year, the N.C. Family-Friendly 40 Companies will be honored at the Women@Work Breakfast on Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at American Tobacco Bay 7 in downtown Durham.

Pamela Stone, professor of sociology and author of the best-selling book, Opting Out? Why Women Really Quit Careers and Head Home, will address the audience on the challenges of balancing work and family. Speaking from research in her book, Stone offers concrete ideas for redesigning workplaces to make it easier for women—and men—to attain their goal of living rewarding lives that combine both families and careers.

 2008 N.C. Family-Friendly 40 Companies (listed alphabetically, not by rank)

Family-Friendly 40 Companies 2008
Raising the Bar for Family-Friendly Workplaces

By Anna Millar and Meghan Gosk, Ed.D.

Smart companies have realized that the way to attract and retain top talent often lies beyond an annual salary. In the 10th and most competitive year yet, Carolina Parenting Inc. has awarded 40 impressive North Carolina companies with the honorable designation of being family-friendly. These 40 companies provide phenomenal examples of strong benefits packages, flexible work arrangements and other creative programs to help employees balance work and family life.
As an overview, we highlight four distinct organizations to demonstrate that companies of all types and sizes are capable of institutionalizing comprehensive benefits packages and family-friendly perks. In addition, we provide examples of innovative programs that are offered at other companies recognized this year. While some of these benefits/programs are financially based, many are creative approaches for improving the quality of the lives of their employees while maintaining or even enhancing productivity.

Family-Friendly Models
The following four companies represent a strong cross-section of employers recognized this year for their family-friendly programs and cultures. They range from a small agency to a large governmental organization, a mid-sized global corporation and a large private enterprise.

The Lyerly Agency, a Charlotte-based, advertising, marketing and communications firm, is a small company that is truly a goliath when it comes to living up to its family-friendly values. This 10-person company, founded by two sisters 30 years ago, manages to provide 100 percent of its employees’ health-care costs. Beyond offering a comprehensive benefits package, this company has been steadfast in its commitment to a fun, family-friendly work environment that includes innovative perks such as: closing throughout the year at noon on Friday; a playroom in the office; standing permission to work from home when necessary; and Thursday afternoon “group therapy” that includes snacks, games and great conversation around nonwork-related topics. This is not surprising from a company with a tagline of Kick Butt, Have Fun.

On the other end of the spectrum, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency at Research Triangle Park, a governmental agency that locally employs 1,300 staff members, offers an impressive array of benefits and programs. It provides solid benefits in each of our survey’s five major categories: health care, family care, flexible work and leave options, and education. Specifically, this local chapter of the EPA has an on-site, five-star-rated child-care facility; a fitness center; a café that includes a take-home meal option; a free health unit staffed by professionals focused on health monitoring programs; and offers a variety of flexible work options that more than 80 percent of the staff uses.

In addition, this EPA chapter offers programs that align with its commitment to the environment. Walking trails, alternative transportation options and environmental summer camps enable employees to live their values on the job.

In contrast to the EPA, Arysta LifeScience Corporation is a global, mid-sized, private enterprise with 45 employees in its Cary office. While different in many ways, Arysta is equally impressive in its family-friendly offerings. Arysta’s benefits package is second to none, offering 100-percent employer-paid health, vision, dental, life, short- and long-term disability, as well as 80 percent coverage for dependents’ premiums. Particularly innovative are three new benefits offered in 2008: cancer, pre-paid legal and identity-theft insurance. Beyond its comprehensive benefits, Arysta offers programs that are consistent with its employee-centric philosophy. Rather than dictating work hours, this successful company treats its employees as professionals by focusing on results versus time in the office.

SAS Institute has long been synonymous with both business excellence and employee satisfaction. With more than 4,000 employees in its Cary headquarters, this for-profit, growing company has too many top-notched programs to name. Employee testimonials included with the SAS application reflect a high level of appreciation for the efforts made by management to create a family-friendly culture. According to a systems administrator, “On-site child care, plus the convenience of on-site health care and a flexible work schedule, has made it possible to adjust to being a parent … while continuing to maintain my work ethic and level of focus on the job. SAS provides a lifestyle, not just a job.”

Another employee states, “I was originally wary of working at such a large corporate company. … SAS and its wonder-fully family-supportive culture have proven my fears groundless. I feel very lucky to be working for a company that walks-the-talk of helping its employees and their families find true work-life balance.” It is no wonder that SAS consistently is included in the list of N.C. Family-Friendly 40 Companies.

Sharing Innovative Approaches
- Child Care/Programs for Children
Several companies provide on-site child care and/or subsidized care. For one example, Wachovia partners with Bright Horizons Family Solutions to provide subsidized on-site child care or care at one of Bright Horizons’ Centers across the country. More companies reported providing back-up care and sick-child care this year. There also is an emphasis on support for parents of older children, with more employers providing care during school holidays, summer camp programs and opportunities to bridge the divide between work and family.

- Leave Options
Most companies recognized this year offer paid maternity, paternity, military and sick leave options, but Bank of America stood out in this category by offering eight weeks paid maternity and paternity leave. What is all the more impressive is that as of 2009, Bank of America is extending paid maternity and paternity leaves to 12 weeks each. Moreover, a greater number of companies offer a phase-back program for new moms as well as paid time off for adoption. Rex Healthcare not only provides leave to employees adopting a child, but also offers $5,000 in adoption assistance funding.

- Flexible Work Options
As Pamela Stone eloquently concluded in her book, Opting Out?, the way to attract talented individuals, especially women, is by offering workplace flexibility. As job-share partners, we can testify to the benefits of a part-time work schedule for our family lives and improved work product as a result of collaboration and a higher level of commitment towards our employer. Other job-share arrangements indicate that this option is growing, given the benefits it provides both the employer and employee.

Cisco has consistently demonstrated its commitment to flexibility by providing employees with laptop computers, handheld devices, mobile telephones, Cisco-paid home broadband and desk phone/video functionality on their laptops.

- Health Care
Each company on our list, regardless of size, provides some percentage of their employees’ health care. Many of these companies go well beyond basic coverage. For example, Child Care Services Association offers health insurance to part-time employees working as few as 20 hours per week. Similarly, Duke Energy offers part-time employees pro-rated health benefits. According to one employee, “I feel very fortunate that Duke Energy has allowed me, as a working mother, to work a part-time schedule … and offers great benefits such as health insurance, vacation and the option to participate in retirement savings and cash balance plans.”

There also is an expanded focus on wellness programs, including on-site fitness centers, discounts for gyms, on-site yoga classes, health screenings and disease prevention workshops. In an effort to support the healthy lifestyles of their employees, SAS and Duke University and Health System even host farmers’ markets at their facilities.

Adapting to Needs
In addition to the innovative programs listed above, a few select companies have generated ways to assist their employees with the current state of the economy. For example, Replacements Ltd. offered employees three options for the summer: to work four 10-hour days, to work from home one day or to adjust their schedule to make carpooling easier. And if you think that you cannot afford a vacation in a distant land, AccruePartners offers its owners’ beach house to its employees for a week at a time.

To keep its fingers on the pulse of its employees, RED F Marketing surveys its staff semi-annually to see if they are satisfied with the company culture, specifically to see if they are happy with work-life balance, benefits plans and community outreach. The results of the survey are shared at a quarterly meeting, and action plans are developed to address this important feedback.

The Family-Friendly Future
Having worked with the masters of business student population, we have witnessed a rise in expectations concerning benefits and perks offered by potential employers. Many of these and other Gen Y’ers prioritize corporate culture when considering which companies to target in their job search. Having grown up in an era of technology, these individuals see few obstacles in completing work in nontraditional hours, means and locations. Like those who have come before them, valuable employees realize that if they prove their worth, companies are willing to change employee policies and, in turn, their corporate cultures.

The punch-the-clock mentality is rapidly becoming obsolete, and the businesses that do not follow the path forged by companies such as those recognized in the N.C. Family-Friendly 40 will fall by the wayside. Shrewd companies are realizing that the only way to attract and retain top talent is to offer flexible work arrangements and strong benefits packages. The onus also falls on employees to earn it, demand it and not abuse it.

Anna Millar and Meghan Gosk, Ed.D., have shared the position of associate director of the MBA Program at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School for the past four years. This year, they partnered with Carolina Parenting Inc. to select the N.C. Family-Friendly 40 Companies and will present at the Women@Work Breakfast Sept. 17, 2008.

Family-Friendly 40 Companies
Selection Methodology:
This is the 10th year Carolina Parenting Inc. has honored 40 family-friendly North Carolina companies. The application process begins with a simple nomination form. Companies nominated by the deadline were contacted by Carolina Parenting and asked to answer an open-ended question and complete a benefits survey. Companies could also ask employees to submit testimonials.
Our editorial staff reviewed this information. All of the application packages and staff recommendations were reviewed by the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School MBA Program associate directors, who developed the final list in partnership with Carolina Parenting.
To nominate a company for 2009, click here.