Cornell was ranked 19 of the top 100 best companies to work for, Working Mother magazine announced Sept. 15. The magazine noted that it chooses companies with an "unwavering commitment to parents nationwide": All of this year's winning companies offer flextime hours, telecommuting, paid maternity leave and employee assistance programs.

"Being 19th on the list of top 100 Working Mother companies affirms that we are succeeding in our ongoing commitment to make Cornell a good place to work for people of all walks of life and family structures," said Mary Opperman, Cornell's vice president for human resources and safety services. Cornell was ranked 39th in 2009, the last year it was ranked for the publication. It also placed in the top 100 companies in 2008, 2007 and 2006.

"Our paternity and adoption leave programs and the access that faculty and staff members have to Cornell's benefits programs were rated among the highest," said Lynette Chappell-Williams, associate vice president for workforce diversity and inclusion. Also considered strengths were Cornell's health and wellness programs, maternity leave and the hiring and retention of working parents.

Carol Evans, president of Working Mother Media, said that 97 percent of the winning companies offer prenatal education, weight-loss, wellness and stress-reduction programs to employees at every level. "With more than 169,000 women hired last year, this year's 100 best companies make up an impressive group of winners that offer family-driven programs and benefits that far outpace their competitors," she said.

The winners will be celebrated at this year's Working Mother 100 Best Companies WorkLife Congress, Oct. 18-20 in New York City.

The 100 Best Companies, as well as national comparisons, will be profiled in the October issue of Working Mother and at http://workingmother.com/bestcompanies.