General Electric loans employees up to $500 to help them through personal emergencies and grants them up to $5,000 after natural disasters.

To show employees that hard work and a healthy lifestyle aren't mutually exclusive, this infrastructure, finance and media company launched Health Ahead, its new global wellness program, last November. Now all company locations with more than 100 employees are being evaluated for their ability to promote physical and mental health and competing for the coveted "healthy worksite‚" designation. Offices have brought in yoga teachers and Ping-Pong tables and launched dance and weight loss contests; there's even a treadmill desk at headquarters. Employees who work 20 hours per week earn health insurance, and any one at risk for serious health problems (diabetes, heart trouble) is put in touch with lifestyle coaches and medical specialists. Maternity leave is six fully paid weeks; helping moms return to work are an on-site child-care center in Universal City, CA, a near-site center in Waukesha, WI, and a solid backup-care program.

Chairman & CEO Jeffrey Immelt

SVP, HR John Lynch

Women managers, senior managers and corporate execs 29%

Women among top earners 22%

Women on board of directors 25%

Women corporate executive hires in 2009 33%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year* 37%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year* 2%

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.