This is the magazine's 14th annual ranking of companies that support working families. The survey considers such benefits as competitive salaries, advancement opportunities for women, child-care assistance, company culture and flexible work arrangements.
Given that Gymboree is a franchise that's based on children, this isn't surprising. Still, selling children's clothing and running parent-child developmental play programs doesn't necessarily translate into good benefits for your employees. At Gymboree, however, it apparently does.
"We are proud to be recognized by Working Mother magazine," said Ken Meyers, Gymboree's senior vice-president of human resources. "Our policies foster an environment which provides challenge, fun and flexibility in the workplace." He adds that Gymboree is especially proud of its enhanced leave programs, which allow for leaves of absence, which include maternity, paternity, adoption an infertility care.
Gymboree, which has 408 franchised stores, has taken an unusual approach to other employee benefits. Part-time workers, for example, are eligible for educational reimbursement, enhanced medical expense reimbursement, merchandise discounts and a discounted stock purchase program. The company has also instituted a referral service for child care, elder care and pet care. It even sponsors an art contest for employees' children. Della Berger, Gymboree's vice president of compensation and benefits, points out that turnover for the franchise's 6,000 store employees has dropped as a result of such benefits.
"The Working Mother award is especially meaningful for us, since working moms make up approximately two-third of our workforce," Meyers says. "We're proud to support the employment needs of working moms and all our team members."
Go To Page: 1
