How Family-Friendly Are Local Companies?
It's something many mothers think about every day: Can I get a different job that's more family friendly?
HOI 19 News did the research for you. The station contacted and sent a list of questions relating to working mothers to every company in McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties that employs at least 250 people. Some companies chose not to participate, but the overall response was good.
A group of local mothers ranked the employers using criteria they feel are most important to working mothers: flexibility, job sharing, childcare, maternity leave, paternity leave, health care benefits, and nursing rooms.
Methodist Medical Center ranked number one in the area for working moms. The hospital offers a Win Win program, where employees can opt to work just the hours children are in school or work a few hours in the evening while a spouse or partner watches the kids. Some Methodist employees can choose to work 24 hours on weekends only and get paid for working 40 hours.
Seventeen-year employee Julie Thames said, "Methodist is just a great place to work."
The hospital also offers several private nursing rooms and on-site, discounted childcare. Thames said, "I can see (my daughter) if I want to. I can have lunch with her if I want to. Having her in the same place I am is a big benefit to me."
Men and women both get six weeks of paid leave after the birth a child. They also earn plenty of paid time off. The monthly health care premium is less than $80 for a family of four, and many maternity expenses are covered in full after a minimal co-pay.
Illinois Central College in East Peoria came in second. The college ranks at the top for job sharing and flex-time. ICC is closed on most of the holidays kids are off school, and it closes between Christmas and New Year's Day for family time. Employees also have the option of working four days a week during the summer.
ICC employee Melanie Riley said, "It's one of the reasons I decided to come here and continue to stay. It's just a very, very inviting environment for children and for working moms."
There's on-site childcare at the East Peoria and downtown Peoria campuses and two private rooms set up for breastfeeding moms. Human Resources Director Gina Zindt said, "A family oriented employer was one of our initiatives in our blueprint for the future. So, it's pretty high up on the priority list here."
Health care at the college can be as low as $60 a month for a family, and there's a $250 yearly deductible. After that, insurance pays 90 percent.
ICC was only docked for its maternity and paternity policy. Employees do earn a substantial amount of paid time off, but there's no guaranteed amount of paid leave after the birth of a child.
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Proctor Hospital, and Pekin Hospital ranked third to sixth, respectively, on the list. State Farm Insurance, the Marc Center, OSF Healthcare, and Country Insurance and Financial rounded out the top 10.
Two of the areas biggest employers, Caterpillar and CEFCU, declined to participate in the survey.
You can find more information on the survey at www.hoinews.com. Look for the "Do It All Moms" box on the news page. TPW
HOI 19 News did the research for you. The station contacted and sent a list of questions relating to working mothers to every company in McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties that employs at least 250 people. Some companies chose not to participate, but the overall response was good.
A group of local mothers ranked the employers using criteria they feel are most important to working mothers: flexibility, job sharing, childcare, maternity leave, paternity leave, health care benefits, and nursing rooms.
Methodist Medical Center ranked number one in the area for working moms. The hospital offers a Win Win program, where employees can opt to work just the hours children are in school or work a few hours in the evening while a spouse or partner watches the kids. Some Methodist employees can choose to work 24 hours on weekends only and get paid for working 40 hours.
Seventeen-year employee Julie Thames said, "Methodist is just a great place to work."
The hospital also offers several private nursing rooms and on-site, discounted childcare. Thames said, "I can see (my daughter) if I want to. I can have lunch with her if I want to. Having her in the same place I am is a big benefit to me."
Men and women both get six weeks of paid leave after the birth a child. They also earn plenty of paid time off. The monthly health care premium is less than $80 for a family of four, and many maternity expenses are covered in full after a minimal co-pay.
Illinois Central College in East Peoria came in second. The college ranks at the top for job sharing and flex-time. ICC is closed on most of the holidays kids are off school, and it closes between Christmas and New Year's Day for family time. Employees also have the option of working four days a week during the summer.
ICC employee Melanie Riley said, "It's one of the reasons I decided to come here and continue to stay. It's just a very, very inviting environment for children and for working moms."
There's on-site childcare at the East Peoria and downtown Peoria campuses and two private rooms set up for breastfeeding moms. Human Resources Director Gina Zindt said, "A family oriented employer was one of our initiatives in our blueprint for the future. So, it's pretty high up on the priority list here."
Health care at the college can be as low as $60 a month for a family, and there's a $250 yearly deductible. After that, insurance pays 90 percent.
ICC was only docked for its maternity and paternity policy. Employees do earn a substantial amount of paid time off, but there's no guaranteed amount of paid leave after the birth of a child.
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Proctor Hospital, and Pekin Hospital ranked third to sixth, respectively, on the list. State Farm Insurance, the Marc Center, OSF Healthcare, and Country Insurance and Financial rounded out the top 10.
Two of the areas biggest employers, Caterpillar and CEFCU, declined to participate in the survey.
You can find more information on the survey at www.hoinews.com. Look for the "Do It All Moms" box on the news page. TPW