In today’s society, moms still lead double roles: that of a homemaker and a worker. It’s tough, but somebody’s gotta do it. Fortunately there are several companies who provide a very supportive environment for these hardworking moms, allowing them to be great moms and great professionals at the same time.

Here are some of the exemplary companies who best support working moms.

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems is a world wide leader in networking for the internet. Founded in 1984, Cisco Systems employ more than 47,000 employees, 24% of who are women.

Working mom support

Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Susan L. Bostrom strongly believe "that diversity in the workforce brings diversity of thought which increases a business’s competitive advantage."

Cisco provides on-site childcare at is headquarters in San Jose. They also offer priority access to over 200 childcare centers, back-up emergency child care, comprehensive breastfeeding support services. On top of all that, Cisco offers employees, especially working moms flexible work options,access to their homes, and several on-site services. Cisco even offers adoption assistance.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

It is one of the country’s prime pediatric healthcar systems. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has two pediatric hospitals and five immediate care centers. At CHOA, 81% of all employees are women. 61 % of executives are also women.

Working mom support

"Those [employees] who have chosen to be working mothers … are especially important because they make a difference in the lives of children in two places – at home and at work. So, we’ve always felt an obligation to support them in their indispensable and important roles." says President and CEO James Tally.

All employees are offered flexible working schedules. In fact, they are encouraged to telecommute when possible. "Great Expectations" baby showers are held regulaarly for expecting parents. Employees also receive pregnancy counseling, have access to a lactation consultant and company-sponsored childcare and more. Plus, CHOA offers a $100 dollar savings bond for each new baby of of an employee. CHOA also offers adoption assistance.

Additional fact: CHOA will pay a lifetime benefit of up to $10,000 to cover expenses related to infertility treatments.

American Express

A leading global payments, network and travel company. Sometimes the AMEX name is synonymous to being wealthy. AMEX employs 42, 453 employees, 61% are women. AMEX has appeared on working mom for the 16^th time in 2005.

Working mom support

AMEX offers 3 flexible work options: Job sharing, a compressed work week and part-time scheduling. They also encourage telecommuting and offer education- and legal-assistance plans. Adoption assistance is also provided.

Eli Lily & Co.

A renowned pharmaceutical company and a leader in innovation, Eli Lily & Co. employs people worldwide. Some of their products include Prozac and Evista.

Working mom support

Working mom applauds Eli Lily & Co.’s culture "that gives people the freedom to figure out how to achieve their own version of work/family balance."

Eli Lily & Co. offers its employees flexible work options including: flex time, flex week, part-time hours, job sharing and telecommuting. They have on-site child development center and fitness centers at several locations. All new parents – mothers, fathers and adoptive and foster parents – enjoy paid leave. Elder care and childcare consultation and referral services, including support and information-sharing groups, are available as is adoption assistance.

Publix Supermarkets

Publix Super Markets is the largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States. Founded in 1930, Publix has over 138,000 associates, 884 stores and eight distribution centers across five states.

Working mom support

Publlix’s Driector of Media and Community Relations, Maria Brous says, "Women are an important part of our workforce, as they are in our stores as consumers. Women help us identify consumer shopping trends and provide us with the attention to detail that makes the difference in the overall shopping experience of our customers."

Publix offers a variety of benefits to suit the needs of employees working in different locations. In the Publix headquarters, associates enjoy access to the Publix Child Development Center and lactation rooms. Publix retail stores, employees enjoy flexible working hours. Manufacturing and Distribution centers employees enjoy three shift-schedule options. Plus, Telecommuting is encouraged when possible.

PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers is an industry focused company that offers assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for clients and stakeholders. PricewaterhouseCoopers ahs 26,000+ employees, 48% are women. PricewaterhouseCoopers Global CEO Samuel A. DiPiazza says, "Any organisation, including ours, is at its strongest when it leverages its people to their fullest potential – that’s why nurturing female talent is so important" .

Working mom support

PwxC has been part of Working Mother’s "100 Best Companies" for the 9^th time in 2005. They offer plenty of working mom benefits. Some of them include discounts and reimbursements for childcare, emergency backup childcare, telecommuting options and part-time scheduling. New moms, both biological and adoptive, enjoy generous paid leave. Non-primary caregivers also get to enojy three weeks of parental leave. All parents can access the "Working Parents’ Network," where they can get advice from other colleagues.

PwC also has a new program called "Working Parents’ Network," for all staffers and their spouse or domestic partners. In this program staffers and their partners counseling and and educational. They can purchase state-of-the-art breast pumps for a nominal co-payment. Plus, many PwC offices have private Mother’s rooms.

Edward Jones

Edward Jones is an investment and financial services firm. EJ is one of the fastest growing and honored investment firms today. Then firm is a believer of giving back to the community and has chosen the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation as one the organisations that they support. They are known for opening the door to women for careers in finance across the U.S. and Canada and the U.K. Of Edward Jones’s more than 30,000+ employees, 65% are women.

Working mom support

Edward Jones supports working moms in a number of unique ways. Transitional representatives will fill in for investment representatives who are out on maternity leave. Edward Jones’s EDGE ("Expectations, Development, Guidance and Expertise") Program is a network of successful women who offer advice to other women on building a thriving business. Michele Holton, Manager of Inclusion for Edward Jones, says EDGE has proven to be a "very helpful resource because you have women who are willing and prepared to take these calls and share their success strategies."

In addition to tuition-reimbursement packages, full benefits, profit sharing and an opportunity for ownership in the firm, Edward Jones is proud to offer adoption assistance and family leave as well as opportunities for job sharing, flex time and part-time work.

IBM

IBM is said to have helped pioneer information technology over the years. It is the world’s largest information technology company. IBM employs nearly 330,000 people around the world. IBM has been one of Working Mother magazine’s best companies for 20 consecutive years.

Working mom support

IBM spokesman Clint Roswell says, "IBM’s goal over the years has been to create an environment and programs so conducive to the needs of women employees that they will continuously attract and retain key talent." But why this warm credence to working moms."It’s good business," says Roswell. "It really makes a difference in the workplace."

IBM offers employees with a variety of flexible work options such as: telecommuting, work at home, part-time reduced work schedules. An employee can avail of these work options temporarily or permanently, job sharing, flexible or compressed work week, individualized work schedules, and get this, up to a three-year leave of absence!

As part of IBM’s thrust of giving back to the community, they established E.X.I.T.E. (EXploring Interests in Technology and Engineering) camps to encourage middle-school girls around the world to explore technology, match and science. Some of IBM’s top female executives also come to lecture.

Microsoft

The worldwide leader in software services and solutions since 1975, Microsoft has helped people and business perform at their optimum level. More so when they launched their Unlimited Potential program which is an "expanded, integrated, and accelerated long-term global business and citizenship commitment to help individuals and communities around the globe achieve their goals and dreams through relevant, accessible, and affordable technologies."*

Working mom support

Microsoft believes in diversity and inclusion. It addresses practically every need of a working mom from back up childcare, ’school’s out’ childcare, paid maternity nad paid parental leave, contraception benefit, infertility benefit, adoption assistance, on-site mammography testing and several more perks.

According to Working Mother Magazine

Microsoft has "New Mother Rooms" in most of its campus buildings.

Microsoft offers a perk for virtually every need a working mom could have, including adoption assistance, backup childcare, school’s out childcare, paid maternity leave and paid parental leave, a contraception benefit, an infertility benefit, on-site mammography testing and much more. "Moms and dads of newborns receive a ‘welcome baby box’ stocked with infant clothes and supplies."

Discovery Communications

A world leader in producing and distributing real-world educational media, retail products and online educational services, Discovery networks include the Discovery Channel, TLC, BBC America, Animal Planet, Discovery Travel and Living, The Military Channel, and several more.

Working mom support

Working Mother Magazine reports that about 50% of Discovery Communications’ executives and top earners are women. In 2004, Working Mother magazine named Discovery Communications President and CEO Judith McHale Family Champion. She has been with the Discovery Communications since 1987.

Working for Discovery is must be a dream come true for working moms. Their work options include Flex time (one of the most popular) and work-at-home (also another favorite). This might be because Discovery provides employees with high-tech tools to make this possible. Employees are offered Emergency/backup childcare, plus they can access the Discovery Family Learning Institute, which offers family-friendly programs and classes.