This alcoholic beverage company made alternative work arrangements far more available to its employees in 2010, after it gave all of them new computers with instant messaging and video-conferencing abilities, which (in addition to the BlackBerrys most had previously received) further freed them from being in the office. At least 95% of its workers already adjust their hours, while 75% frequently telecommute; to encourage even more flex use, last year the company trained 80% of its managers on the proper procedures for establishing such schedules. It just expanded its summer hours to last all year long, too, which means parents can now leave work every Friday at 2 p.m. “Diageo makes being a mom and a career woman much easier to handle,” says Elizabeth Gluhanich, a procurement specialist in Norwalk, CT, who has two children.

CEO & President Ivan Menezes

Senior VP, HR Eliana Zem

Women managers/execs 38% 

Women among top earners 33% 

Women hires in 2010 41% 

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave offered 7 

Allows new moms to “phase back” into work with reduced hours? No

Offers affinity group for new mothers? No

Offers backup childcare? Yes

Employees working flexibly 95%

A brand-new college coaching program at Diageo North America helps employees guide their teen children through that crucial period in their lives.

Finding a good child-care provider is stressful, but for employees of this alcoholic beverage company, it's easy. Parents can utilize a resource and referral service to locate care and may now access 15 days of subsidized backup care annually. Many offset their costs by stashing up to $4,000 in pretax dependent care accounts, which the company matches up to $1,000. Free investment seminars and financial counseling sessions show parents how to maximize their money, and a new concierge service saves them time. Employees who welcome a new child into their families get 18 job-guaranteed weeks off; birth moms are fully paid for six weeks, while dads and adoptive parents are paid for one, with a $4,000 adoption benefit.

President & CEO, Diageo North America & Chairman, Asia Pacific Ivan Menezes

VP, Total Rewards Nadia Owens

Women managers, senior managers and corporate execs 41%

Women among top earners 27%

Women on board of directors 18%

Women corporate executive hires in 2009 17%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year* Not tracked  

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year* 14%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement 71%

Do formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance? Yes

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

Mothers rave about the casual atmosphere and personal freedom they experience working for this leading alcoholic beverage company, based in Norwalk, CT. At some point last year, 50% of its employees reduced their schedules, 60% used flextime, and 75% worked on assignments from home or other non–office locations. Stories abound about moms who are comfortable ducking out of meetings to visit workplace lactation rooms or have been encouraged to relocate closer to home after kids are born. “I went on maternity leave last May and was promoted while still out,” marvels senior brand manager Mela Prasens, a mother of two. “How many companies do that?” In fact, 75% of the female employees promoted last year used a flexible arrangement.

President & CEO: Ivan Menezes

Director, Rewards: Greg Funk

Women managers/execs: 37%

Women among top earners: 30%

Women on board of directors: 18%

Women corporate executive hires in 2008: 25%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year: 70%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year: 50%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement: 75%

Formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance: Yes