Cornell is among the 100 best employers for mothers in the workforce, according to Working Mother magazine, which recognized Cornell for its family-friendly employee policies despite economic pressures in a recession and for continuing to improve key employee benefit programs.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Working Mother listed Cornell as a "best employer."

"Cornell has an ongoing commitment to understanding and responding to the needs of our talented faculty and staff. This has been more challenging in the current financial climate, but we continue our efforts because their talents are needed now more than ever," said Mary Opperman, vice president for human resources. "Cornell's employees have access to a wide range of benefits that respond to the needs of families, including generous parental leave policies, family-care days, flextime, expanded on-site child care and financial support for child care."

Added Lynette Chappell-Williams, associate vice president for workforce diversity and inclusion: "Cornell's holistic commitment to diversity and inclusion drives its efforts to address the needs of working mothers, in particular, and all parents and guardians, in general. We are delighted to be recognized by Working Mother for these efforts, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to address the needs of our faculty and staff in meeting their personal and work responsibilities."

"The Working Mother 100 Best Companies stand head and shoulders above the rest," said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media. "For example, in the last year, we saw the number of companies nationwide offering flexible work arrangements diminish five percentage points, while the 100 Best Companies stayed steady at 100 percent. The 100 Best provide leadership where and when we need it most, furnishing a framework of support for working families during good times and bad."

Recognition from Working Mother is one of many accolades that Cornell has received for its human resource policies: AARP named Cornell as the top U.S. employer for workers aged 50 and older for 2009. Cornell has also earned awards that recognize its human resource policies for adoptive parents; LGBT faculty, students and staff; prospective parents; and veterans.