Recession Fails to Derail Support for Working Moms: HCA Virginia Health System Named A 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Company

100 Best Continue to Improve while Nationwide Standards Sag

New York, September 22, 2009 — Defying expectations in this time of economic stress, HCA Virginia Health System has been named among the 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Companies for its unwavering dedication to family-friendly benefits. HCA Virginia Health System and the other winning companies lead the way in pioneering programs that support families, with 100 percent offering flextime, on-site lactation and telecommuting; and 98 percent offering job-sharing and wellness programs—numbers that dwarf those seen nationwide. In addition, financial programs available to the 100 Best employees are on the rise, a much needed boost for families in today’s economy.  These include tuition reimbursement, retirement planning and pre-tax FSAs for childcare.

Read the profile of HCA Virginia Health System in Working Mother magazine here...

In Central Virginia, HCA Virginia Health System includes more than 50 healthcare providers, including physicians, imaging centers, clinics, surgery centers and their 6 hospitals:  Chippenham Hospital, Johnston-Willis Hospital, John Randolph Medical Center, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, Parham Doctors’ Hospital and Retreat Doctors’ Hospital.

“It is an honor to be acknowledged as one America’s leading companies by Working Mother magazine,” said Margaret Lewis, President of HCA’s Capital Division. “We know that putting patients first starts with ensuring that our employees are able to balance their work and personal lives.”

Read the "Insider's Guide to the HCA Virginia Health System" in Working Mother magazine here...

By contrast, national numbers° are dismal, with just 25 percent of companies offering on-site lactation (vs. 100 percent of the 100 Best), 11 percent with stress reduction programs (vs. 96 percent of the 100 Best), 35 percent offering health insurance for part-timers (vs. 99 percent of the 100 Best) and 16 percent offering job-sharing (vs. 98 percent of the 100 Best). 

“The Working Mother 100 Best Companies stand head and shoulders above the rest,” said Carol Evans, CEO, Working Mother Media. “For example, in the last year, we saw the number of companies nationwide offering flexible work arrangements diminish five percentage points, while the 100 Best Companies stayed steady at 100 percent. The 100 Best provide leadership where and when we need it most, furnishing a framework of support for working families during good times and bad.  If all companies adopted these best practices, more families could weather the economic storm.”

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

“Moms are increasingly becoming the sole breadwinners in many households as men lose their jobs at a higher rate than women,” said Suzanne Riss, Editor in Chief, Working Mother magazine. “Now more than ever, our readers and all working mothers need the support of their employers. By offering benefits like paid maternity leave, the ability to work from home and wellness programs, as well as programs that enhance financial well-being, our 100 Best are helping to reduce stress in the busy lives of working moms. These companies epitomize family-friendly support at its best.”

Now in its 24th year, the Working Mother 100 Best Companies program draws attention to the significant contributions working mothers make to industries and the companies that recognize the importance of tapping this essential labor pool. “We have faith that some day the programs found at the 100 Best Companies will become business norms offered by all companies,” said Evans. “When the economy recovers, lagging companies will lose out on a powerful group of dedicated employees—working moms.”

Methodology:
Companies were selected for the 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Companies based on an extensive application with more than 500 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 2010 Working Mother 100 Best Companies, visit www.wmmsurveys.com. The 2010 online application will be available in mid-December and due by early March 2010.  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 HCA Virginia Health System – Central Virginia Market
With 1,800 beds, more than 6,600 employees and 1,600 affiliated physicians, the Central Virginia team of HCA Virginia Health System is the largest and most comprehensive healthcare provider and one of the largest private employers in Central Virginia.  In Central Virginia, HCA Virginia Health System operates six hospital campuses along with freestanding surgery, imaging and family health centers.  Our hospitals include Chippenham Hospital, Johnston-Willis Hospital, John Randolph Medical Center, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, Parham Doctors’ Hospital and Retreat Doctors’ Hospital.  Both CJW Medical Center and Henrico Doctors’ Hospital have been named HealthGrades ‘America’s 50 Best Hospitals’ in 2007 and 2008. They are the only Virginia hospitals to earn this distinction two years in a row. For more information or to select a physician, please contact 804-320-DOCS(3627) or visit www.HCAvirginia.com.

About Working Mother Media
Celebrating 30 years, Working Mother magazine reaches 2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers while workingmother.com brings to the Web a broad range of insight and solutions served to working mothers every day. Working Mother’s 24-year signature research initiative, Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work-life practices in corporate America. With offices in New York and Washington, D.C., Working Mother Media, a division of Bonnier Corp., includes the National Association for Female Executives, Diversity Best Practices, the WorkLife Congress and the Multicultural Women’s Conference and Town Halls. Working Mother Media’s mission is to champion cultural change.

°National statistics are taken from a recent study by the Society for Human Resource Management.

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Chippenham Hospital and Johnston-Willis Hospital are campuses of CJW Medical Center.  Parham Doctors’ Hospital and Retreat Doctors’ Hospital are campuses of Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.

For More Information:
Karen Nelson
karen.nelson@hcahealthcare.com
c:  804-519-9879