78% of all educational and personal leaves at General Mills last year were taken by female employees.

Finding time to direct a child’s school play, pursue an MBA or take a long vacation isn’t hard for moms employed by this Minneapolis-based food manufacturer, which boasts impressive leave policies. Parents can take an unpaid six-month leave of absence with the understanding that the company will try to find them a comparable position on return. Meanwhile, educational leaves of one to two years are 100% job-guaranteed (with tuition reimbursement), as are brand-new unpaid sabbaticals lasting four to 12 weeks, which workers can take for any reason. In research and development, a pilot program offers “innovation sabbaticals” that allow employees to take up to 26 paid weeks off to scout new trends in the field. Anyone can also request an additional one or two weeks of unpaid flex vacation.

Chairman & CEO: Ken Powell

Senior VP, Global Human Resources: Mike Davis

Women managers/execs: 40%

Women among top earners: 33%

Women on board of directors: 38%

Women corporate executive hires in 2008: 0%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year: 50%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year: 45%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement: 55%

Formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance: Yes