11% of the new hires at VCU Health System last year were returning employees.

Scheduling freedom abounds for the employees of this academic medical center, who earn 27 to 43 paid days off every year. In 2009, 70% of the workforce adjusted their hours or compressed their workweeks, and 20% opted to telecommute or work part-time whenever the need arose. Anyone who puts in 20 hours of work per week is eligible for health insurance, which encourages the use of reduced schedules; supported by this, 6% of employees chose to job-share last year. Self scheduling systems allow many women to handpick the hours that work best for them and even to select overtime shifts when those are available. At least 8% of employees took a leave of absence last year; anyone who does so can continue to receive training and use the center's annual tuition assistance, which covers up to 18 credits at any college. There's even a Weekend Scholars program for employees who attend nursing school, which allows them to work 24 hours (two 12-hour shifts) and get paid for 40.

CEO Sheldon Retchin, MD

VP, HR & Family Care Services Maria Curran

Women managers, senior managers and corporate execs 57%

Women among top earners 65%

Women on board of directors 19%

Women corporate executive hires in 2009 100%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year* 16%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year* 1%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement 27%

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

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