Ernst & Young Launches "Working Moms Network" to Keep Working Mothers Engaged

Part of My JournEY, the Firm’s Overall Strategy for Working Parents

New York (June 5, 2006) — Leading professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP announces the launch of its national “Working Moms Network” (WMN), a program designed to provide support, resources, networking, and mentoring opportunities for new, expectant, and veteran mothers. All of the firm’s current programs and resources - including the Working Moms Network - geared towards helping parents manage their personal and professional goals are part of the umbrella theme My JournEY.

The WMN program formally kicked-off during a live ‘virtual meeting’ out of the firm’s New York headquarters, and opened with a keynote address by Carol Evans, founder and CEO of Working Mother magazine. Nearly 2000 women and men from Ernst & Young’s 90+ offices throughout the U.S. participated via teleconference.

“Making the transition back into the workplace following a parental leave can be a difficult time when many women struggle with being a mother and a professional, and ask themselves how they can do it all ” said Billie Williamson, Gender Equity and Flexibility Strategy Leader, Ernst & Young LLP. “Approximately 700 women went out on Parental leave in the last 12 months. We designed the Working Mothers Network to provide a support system, sense of connectivity and role models to ensure that this critical group of women knows that we are committed to their success. ”

Following the national launch of WMN, geographic area networks of working mothers at the firm will meet quarterly to discuss hot topics, share best practices, and facilitate conversations related to issues that working moms face each day. The network provides its members access to experts in the field of parenting, as well as ‘real life’ speakers in the firm who can provide tips on how parents can achieve the flexibility they need to succeed personally and professionally.

In addition, expecting and adopting mothers will be placed in a Member Circle, a group of 8-10 women comprised of new, expecting and veteran moms. These groups will allow for more personal connections and support groups. The Member Circles will meet regularly to network, discuss hot topics including how to achieve flexibility, and will provide knowledge sharing of resources and contacts such as child care providers, summer camp programs, pediatricians and the like.

The Circles will also help with early identification of members who may be questioning how to have a successful career and be a successful parent. The Circles will also allow for formal or informal mentoring, where a seasoned working mother would help see her mentee through the crucial 18 months that make up her pregnancy, maternity leave, and the transition back to work, a time when many women are facing unknowns, new challenges and new responsibility.

My JournEY
Ernst & Young has been committed to gender equity since the beginnings of women entering the workforce. The firm stepped up that commitment with the creation of an office of gender equity strategy over 10 years ago and committed dedicated teams to further promote the development and advancement of women. My JournEY is the umbrella theme of programs and resources specifically for working parents, both men and women.

My JournEY includes all leaves related to childbirth or adoption, including short-term disability, parental leave, Family and Medical leave, and personal leaves; the Working Moms Network; the Working Dads Network; a full lactation program; connectivity during leave; flexibility in the way we work; formal flexible work arrangements; concierge services; and back-up child and adult care.

“Just like pantyhose or t-shirts, when it says one sits fits all, you know it really means one size fits nobody. That’s why at Ernst & Young we want to make sure that we develop programs that are tailored to each person’s career and personal goals,” according to Williamson. While the firm continually looks for ways to improve the lives of its working mothers, some women may want even more time than a “typical maternity leave” to cycle back to full-time work and extended leave, with connectivity to the firm, which is an option with Ernst & Young.

A recent study undertaken by the Center for Work-Life Policy and sponsored by Ernst & Young concluded that despite their choices, most women want to return to work, but often don’t think it’s possible to juggle a family and a career. Based on a sample of nearly 2,500 women, “Off-Ramps and On-Ramps: Keeping Talented Women on the Path to Success,” revealed that women in business sectors ‘off-ramp’ for a surprisingly short period of time, just 1.2 years.

“It would be a shame to lose these talented individuals over such a short time period,” Williamson said. “The Working Moms Network is an opportunity to reach out to younger women who are looking ahead and mistakenly perceive that there aren’t options for them to have a family while pursuing a challenging and rewarding career at Ernst & Young. This will help new mothers and those contemplating becoming a mother see first hand how the firm’s more senior women function as both a mother and a professional.”

The My JournEY approach focuses on encouraging people to personalize their career experience and their personal lives by taking advantage of the firm’s day-to-day flexible culture as well as formal flexible work arrangements, if they so desire. As part of My JournEY, everyone has access to the Ernst & Young’s new lactation program which includes a hospital grade pump. Ernst & Young women also have access to consultation services, to help them prepare to return to work. A recently enhanced parental leave policy includes six weeks fully paid leave for primary care givers (men or women) in addition to six weeks of fully paid short term disability for birth mothers. Other programs that enable new moms to juggle career and family under the My JournEY umbrella range from back-up adult care and child care to concierge services.

“Many of our working mothers are the primary caregiver at home and they make choices everyday that affect having a challenging and successful career, and being a good mother,” said Williamson. “At Ernst & Young we are of the mindset that it’s not about making a living, it’s about making a life. My JournEY embodies that philosophy by encouraging people through our programs and tools to achieve both personal and professional success throughout their career journey at Ernst & Young.”

About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to restoring the public's trust in professional services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. Its 107,000 people in 140 countries pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism in providing a range of sophisticated services centered on our core competencies of auditing, accounting, tax, and transactions. Further information about Ernst & Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at www.ey.com/perspectives. Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited does not provide services to clients.