http://shine.yahoo.com/secrets-to-your-success/australian-company-iag-rewards-moms-returning-185600273.html
Not only do they value women in upper level positions and have ASKED their female employees for feedback. They also used that feedback (I didn't think this happens, but apparently there are Utopian places that do!) to change their policies to help retain women. It seems like such a novel idea, but considering that women in the US still do not make the same as their male counterparts, the practice of this company excites me and gives me hope. The biggest change- they give 14 weeks of paid maternity time (awesome!) and they pay the woman 2x's her salary for the first 6 weeks after she returns to work (even more awesome!).
I am not the stay at home mom type so returning to work has always been my plan. I like my job and value my career so although a juggling act, I have not minded being back. I do mind the long commute and not having flexibility to adjust my schedule to meet the needs of my family. I would love to know that my employer values women enough to say- we know that becoming a parent is an adjustment so we're going to help make that adjustment a little easier by paying you a little extra when you return to work. How powerful (and it makes my HR heart pitter patter a little).
Now I wonder how long it will be before US companies start to get it and really make an effort to retain women, especially working moms.
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