If something bad happens to your family, having someone to see you through it can make all the difference. As the director of work life services at this health care system, Helen Neppes makes it her mission to assist employees in crisis, whether they’re going through a major illness, natural disaster, death of a loved one or other struggles. She’ll even head directly to fires or accidents if needed and is ready with info on applicable leaves and benefits, flex schedules and helpful experts. She also manages Scripps’s HOPE fund, which doles out grants of up to $2,000 to workers in financial straits. Many rely on the system’s on-site day care, child care discounts, 20 days of annual backup care and free elder care consultations. Staff employees can apply to take summers off with full benefits.

President & CEO Chris Van Gorder

Corporate Senior VP, Innovation, HR & Performance Management Vic Buzachero

Women managers/execs 67%

Women hires in 2011 72%

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave offered 6

Offers paid paternity leave? Yes

Offers paid adoption leave? No

Women in affinity groups in 2011 10%

Offers backup child care? Yes

Employees working flexibly 80%