Tuesday, September 23rd: Release of 18th Annual '100 Best Companies for Working Mothers'.

Lifestyle Editors/Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2003

-Great tie in with business, lifestyle, workplace, women stories-

Payroll may be down but work/life benefits are up at many of America's top companies, according to Working Mother magazine, which

Workplace culture at the "100 Best Companies" now reflects the permanent impact of working mothers. And companies also are responding to pressure from both men and women in Generations X and Y, who demand a balanced life, as illustrated by the following trends:

-- Increased availability of after-school programs for teens and

tweens in the day care center, as well as support groups and

counseling for parents of the post-playground set.

-- Greater emphasis placed on elder care programs such as in-home

caregivers and resource and referral services.

-- More pervasive health and wellness programs (like therapeutic

massages and yoga) at companies

-- A growing number of companies now treat employees like adults,

allowing them the discretion to use paid time off for whatever

type of flexibility they need: parental leave, child care,

elder care, etc.

     COMPANIES ON LIST ARE HEADQUARTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES:


CALIFORNIA (4)                       MISSOURI (1)
CONNECTICUT (3)                      NEBRASKA (2)
DELAWARE (3)                         NEW YORK (21)
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (2)             NEW JERSEY (12)
FLORIDA (2)                          NORTH CAROLINA (4)
GEORGIA (1)                          OHIO (1)
ILLINOIS (10)                        PENNSYLVANIA (4)
INDIANA (1)                          TENNESSEE (1)
IOWA (1)                             TEXAS (2)
KENTUCKY (1)                         VIRGINIA (8)
MARYLAND (2)                         WASHINGTON (1)
MASSACHUSETTS (5)                    WEST VIRGINIA (1)
MICHIGAN (3)                         WISCONSIN (2)
MINNESOTA (4)

                             BY INDUSTRY:

FINANCIAL & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES (45)
HEALTH CARE  (8)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY  (10)
MANUFACTURING  & RETAIL (16)
MEDIA & ADVERTISING  (7)
PHARMACEUTICALS & BIOTECH (10)
TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY (4)

Contact Meryl Weinsaft at 212-351-6456/917-974-0022 to set up an interview on September 23 with a Working Mother representative or to receive more information about this year's honorees.