Generous leave policies make this information technology and networking company a great place to raise children. Employees receive at least 20 days of paid time off per year (for vacation, illness or any personal or family reason), plus 10 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday. It takes just 20 hours of work per week to earn medical insurance, which encourages the use of flexible schedules, and there’s free health coaching, six on-site gyms and a medical center with a pharmacy at headquarters. Workers and their families can use the employee assistance program to arrange free sessions with legal and financial experts, talk to a counselor or meet with a college coach. If they find themselves facing tough times financially, they may apply to the Family Crisis Assistance Program for one-time payouts of around $2,000 to $5,000.

Chairman & CEO John Chambers

VP, HR Jim Gemmell

Women managers/execs 20%

Women hires in 2011 22%

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave offered 26

Offers paid paternity leave? No

Offers paid adoption leave? Yes

Women in affinity groups in 2011 37%

Offers backup child care? Yes

Employees working flexibly 99%