In 2009, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman brought in a social media coach who spoke about online networking as an easier option for busy moms.

Getting attorneys to relax is tricky–there's always work to do. So in 2009, this law firm made a revision to its flexible work initiative, encouraging moms to take a break. Its New Baby Care Benefit already granted parents six fully paid weeks off to give birth, adopt, foster a child or bring home a baby conceived through surrogacy. Now, a new policy clarifies that attorneys can phase back into full-time practice at the end of that leave. Easing their transition: ten free days of babysitting at an approved center. To make sure moms know their options, the Women Attorneys Network just led a conference on flexible schedules; in each office, a reduced-hours partner coaches leaders on facilitating flex arrangements and helps broker similar discussions between attorneys and management. In a new program, women partners mentor female associates on the importance of maintaining work-life balance.

Chair James Rishwain

Chief HR Officer Deborah Johnson

Women managers, senior managers and corporate execs 48%

Women among top earners 43%

Women on board of directors 31%

Women corporate executive hires in 2009 0%  

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year* 4%

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

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

Do formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance? No

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