Magazine Lauds Patagonia as Family-Friendly

Ventura-based Patagonia has once again made Working Mother magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers.”

The survey, now in its 12th year, rates companies on five criteria: pay; opportunity for women to advance; child-care assistance; flexible work arrangements; and other family-friendly benefits such as long paid maternity leaves as well as paid leaves for new fathers and adoptive parents.

Patagonia was cited by the magazine for offering new fathers the same generous eight-week paid leave they give to new mothers.

“Working Mother was thrilled to see hundreds of companies compete for a spot on this year’s list,” said Judsen Culbreth, Working Mother’s editor-in-chief. “A surge of companies are beginning to realize that family-friendliness enhances a dedicated and focused work force while improving bottom-line results.”

This year’s list features companies ranging in size from 66 employees to more than 300,000, representing a variety of industries.

The magazine noted that companies on the list have seen the link between family-friendly programs and corporate recruitment, retention and productivity. Patagonia estimates that employee turnover costs $50,000 per person--therefore, finding and keeping top employees has become a business imperative.