Abbott employees enrolled in undergraduate college courses receive up to $5,250 annually toward tuition. For graduate courses, they get up to $7,000.

Mothers who work at this health-care company don't need to skip their kids' choir practices or school plays just to impress the boss: Last year, 89% of employees held jobs that permitted them to flex their schedules, while 64% were able to telecommute. Such arrangements suit moms like Diane Weishaar, a program manager for Global Pharmaceutical Operations: "Having flexible work options has allowed me to spend valuable time with my family and develop a productive, growing career,‚" says Diane, who has two sons. An on-site child-care center at headquarters looks after kids full-time and can offer therapy for those with special needs; employees elsewhere access tuition discounts at local centers. Parents at the Bioresearch Center in Worcester, MA, or at various California locations of the medical optics and vascular divisions get up to $35 per day for backup care, five days per year.

Chairman & CEO Miles D. White

SVP, HR Stephen Fussell

Women managers, senior managers and corporate execs 42%

Women among top earners 37%

Women on board of directors 15%

Women corporate executive hires in 2009 0%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year* 12%

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

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement Not tracked.

Do formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance? Yes

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