At McKinsey & Company, the whole office shuts down for the last week of December so no one feels any pressure to work.

With the formal launch of its Mom's Network last year, this management consulting firm gave all women who were expecting or raising children their own representative–a dedicated manager assigned to keep tabs on their progress and answer any work-life questions. Women who are pregnant may take ten paid days off before giving birth and can stay home for 12 fully paid weeks afterward  (16 if their children are multiples, premature or born with special needs). Partners in every office mentor moms and explain the details of on- and off-ramping, but it's the annual Mom's Facebook that really helps consultants with kids find a network. With personal insight (and a bit of humor), senior women have written Laptops & Lullabies: The Mom's Guide to McKinsey. In a real bind, moms can contact the firm's backup-care program, which will send a nanny to their homes; use is unlimited, and the fee is subsidized for non partners five days per year.

Managing Director Dominic Barton

Director of Diversity Initiatives Paulette Gerkovich, PhD

Women managers, senior managers and corporate execs 27%

Women among top earners 22%

Women on board of directors 7%

Women corporate executive hires in 2009 N/A  

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year* 22%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year* N/A  

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement 6%

Do formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance? No

*Percentages reflect number of women participants versus company’s total female workforce.