What We Love
Imagine working for a company that stocks bicycles so you can take a spin around campus whenever you need fresh air, Wii gaming systems for when your kids feel like zoning out and an artificial putting green where experts provide free golf lessons. If ever a company fit the “home away from home” bill, it’s this Enfield, CT–based toy manufacturer, which creates an atmosphere so relaxed and permissive that kids and dogs are seen roaming the halls in equal measure. (Subsidized massages on busy days also help.) Employees are free to tend to family matters at any time of day, as long as their assignments get done. If they do need to work from home, they simply grab their loaner laptops and log on to the Internet—and the company reimburses them for the access. If sick children can’t make it to school or a snow day is called, moms may bring kids to the on-site child-care center, where tuition is charged on a sliding scale.

President: Soren Torp Laursen

Director, HR: Mary Sutton

Women managers/execs: 43%

Women among top earners: 36%

Women on board of directors: 29%

Women corporate executive hires in 2008: 0%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year: 80%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year: 5%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement: 100%

Formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance: Yes