Forbes magazine recently published its list of the 400 best places (with 1,000 or more employees) for women to work in the United States.
Forbes conducted an independent survey of more than 60,000 American employees, including 40,000 women, across 24 industry sectors. The evaluation was based on direct and indirect recommendations from employees who evaluated their employer based on work-related topics, including working conditions, salary, and employer diversity. Additionally, participants evaluated their employer based on topics relevant to women, including parental leave, family support, Qexibility, discrimination, representation and pay equity. Survey participants were also prompted to evaluate other employers in their respective industries, and the number of women in leadership positions also factored into the rankings.
The analysis concluded that the very best place for women to work was the University of Oklahoma. In recent years, the university has enhanced numerous employee benefits that support work-life balance. The university has expanded the number of paid holidays to 14 and embraced flexible work schedules, in addition to offering generous paid time off. The university has also implemented a paid parental leave program, which allows employees to take leave anytime in the first 12 months following a birth or adoption. Other female-friendly programs in place at the university include numerous lactation rooms, women-centric health programs, and on-site mammograms.
“Being recognized as the nation’s top employer for women is an extraordinary honor,” said Joseph Harroz Jr., president of the University of Oklahoma “Not only is the University of Oklahoma a great place to learn, it’s also an incredible place for individuals to invest in and advance their careers. This achievement strengthens our commitment to foster a workplace that provides employees a diverse range of support and resources, empowering them to flourish and succeed.”
Other universities that ranked high in the Forbes survey were the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2nd), the University of South Florida (15th), the University of Virginia (21st), and North Carolina State University (22nd). The healthcare systems at the University of Colorado, the University of Washington, and the University of California, Los Angeles all ranked in the Top 25.