Survey Names 40 Companies as Best for Working Mothers

NEW YORK —  An annual survey has identified 40 companies that offer favorable benefits, pay and opportunities for working women with children, 10 more firms than appeared on last year’s list, according to the August issue of Working Woman magazine.

The top five companies identified as being most sensitive to the needs of working mothers are Apple Computer, Hoffmann-La Roche, Digital Equipment, Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and Herman Miller Inc., an institutional furniture company, the survey said.

The second annual survey was based on a telephone and mail study of 150 companies conducted between January and April by Milton Moskowitz, the author of the book “The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America.” Moskowitz said he selected the 150 companies from the research he accumulated for his book.

The survey reviewed pay and benefits, including maternity leave, child care and job security. The survey also considered the number of women the companies promoted and recruited during the past year, as well as how many women are in management positions.

Apple, for example, offers flexible working hours, adoption aid up to $3,000 and job sharing. The computer company also has plans to open its own day-care center later this summer, the magazine said.