The Application
The 2008 Working Mother 100 Best Companies application includes more than 500 questions on workforce, compensation, child care, flexibility programs, leave policies and more. It also surveys the usage, availability and tracking of programs, as well as the accountability of managers who oversee them.

What’s Measured
Seven areas are measured and scored: workforce profile, compensation, child care, flexibility, time off and leaves, family-friendly programs and company culture.

This Year’s Winners
With the help of an independent survey research company, we validated the applications for completeness and tabulated the scores, which then determined the winners.

For this year’s 100 Best, we gave particular weight to family-friendly programs, flexibility, leave policies and benefits for part-timers.  All applicants receive feedback showing how they compare to other applicants; however, the names of applicants that do not make the list are kept confidential. The company profiles, culled from the applications and interviews with company representatives, reflect 2007 data. Fact checkers verify all the information.

How to Apply
The online application for the 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Companies will be available in mid-December and
is due by early March 2009. To apply, you first must register at wmmsurveys.com. When the survey becomes available, you will receive an email with a link to it. We invite applications from private or public firms in any industry,
with the exception of government agencies and firms in the business of providing work/life or child-care services.