Scripps Named to 100 Best Company List by Working Mother Magazine

SAN DIEGO – For the second consecutive year, Working Mother magazine has named Scripps Health to its list of 100 Best Companies for 2006. Profiled in the October issue of Working Mother magazine, Scripps is celebrated for creating a work environment that is attractive to all women, in particular to working mothers. In making family-friendly policies the norm, including flextime, childcare and telecommuting, the 100 Best are recognized for creating corporate cultures that encourage the retention and promotion of female employees.

“Scripps Health is exceptional for its continuing commitment to working mothers, and we salute them for making the 100 Best for the second time,” said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media. “Every year we see companies upping the ante, establishing new paradigms for quality of life among their employees and redefining the status quo for workplaces across the country. Among the many worthy entrants, the winners really set the gold standard.”

Scripps was recognized for its flexible scheduling, as well as health benefits for families, including domestic partners and domiciled adults, family leave benefits and two on-site child centers.At 76 percent, women comprise the majority of Scripps workforce.

“We are proud of the work of our staff in providing extraordinary care to our patients every day.We work hard to recruit and retain the best people,” said Scripps President and CEO Chris Van Gorder. “Being honored with this award from Working Mother is confirmation that we are on track with our efforts to be the employer of choice – for all workers.”

In surveying the companies that applied for this year’s list, particular weight was given to questions in two areas: flexible scheduling, the most critical benefit for working mothers; and leave time, because it is essential for parents to be able to take time off from work, whether it is several months to bond with newborns or several years to be at home with children during their most formative years.

“As a working mother it has been so important to me that when special needs arose and I realized that my daughter needed more of me, that Scripps allowed me to keep my same position at 20 hours per week versus 40 hours,” said Debra Lambert, clinical redesign coordinator at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. “My director has been so understanding about my need to spend more time with my daughter as she navigates changes that hit girls hard in middle school. Despite being reduced to part-time, I am respected as a contributing team player and that means so much to me. My family is also thrilled that Mom is around more and more mentally present. This change has been wonderful and fortunately I still have access to the same health insurance and benefits as a full-time employee.”

Working Mother magazine, founded in 1979, reaches nearly three million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. Its 21-year signature initiative, the Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America. The complete list of the Working Mother 100 Best Companies can be found at www.workingmother.com.

Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a $1.6 billion, non-profit, San Diego-based health care system. Scripps treats 478,000 patients annually through the dedication of more than 2,600 affiliated physicians and 10,500 employees across five hospital campuses, home health care services, and an ambulatory care network of clinics, physicians’ offices and outpatient centers throughout the San Diego region.