Mercy Health System reimburses 50% of the cost (up to $1,500) of adaptive devices required to outfit the homes of employee children with disabilities.

Creative thinking helped this Janesville, WI–based health-care system reduce its overhead without eliminating staff or benefits last year, making it a stronghold in an area hard hit by the recession. Employee families struggling to raise kids take comfort in child-care discounts and resource and referral offerings, subsidized on-site sick-child care and travel child-care reimbursements. Meanwhile, staffers seeking to secure their professional futures can breathe a little easier now that tuition assistance has increased to $4,000 from $3,500—with another $1,000 available to those who participate in career mentoring. Also valued are free health screenings, on-site gyms, discounted school physicals and flu shots, which are available to employees and their families. The company expanded its retirement planning sessions and released an economic guide listing local and national staff discounts.

President & CEO: Javon Bea

VP, HR & Organizational Development: Kathy Harris

Women managers/execs: 84%

Women among top earners: 43%

Women on board of directors: 24%

Women corporate executive hires in 2008: 0%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year: 85%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year: 33%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement: 1%

Formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance: No