In 2011, PwC’s Diversity Leadership Forum hosted 600 senior leaders at a conference entitled “Business Works When Life Works: Flexibility in a Hyper-Connected World.”

Long hours and time away from family are expected when you work for an audit, tax and advisory services firm, but management here makes a conscious effort to help employees juggle their jobs and personal lives. Under a new initiative called Flexibility², its teams create customized schedules that meet their members’ needs, whether that means that individuals regularly work from home, take the occasional “flex day” off or rotate early-evening departures throughout the month. Groups now establish “do not disturb” hours during which they complete to-do list tasks without interruption, announce “quiet nights” when no one is to be contacted at home and institute email-free holidays. Everyone gets 15 to 22 vacation days annually and may take unlimited sick days, and there are paid sabbaticals and off-ramping programs available for use by employee caregivers.

US Chairman & Senior Partner Bob Moritz

US Human Capital Leader Terri McClements

Women managers/execs 41%

Women hires in 2011 42%

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave offered 15

Offers paid paternity leave? Yes

Offers paid adoption leave? Yes

Women in affinity groups in 2011 Not tracked

Offers backup child care? Yes

Employees working flexibly 80%