November 17, 2006

The MGH salutes working mothers

Working mothers from across the hospital took a break from their busy schedules to be feted at a special reception Nov. 1 held in honor of the MGH being named one of the top 100 companies for working mothers by Working Mother magazine. The MGH was selected based on a number of programs and benefits, including on-site childcare options, compensation, organizational structure and family-friendly policies.

Ceremony emcee Jeff Davis, senior vice president for Human Resources, and Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH, both commended all of the hospital’s working mothers. “It’s important to recognize that, if it were not for the incredible work and dedication of our working mothers, this hospital could not function,” said Slavin. “We recognize that our working mothers not only pour a tremendous amount of energy and devotion into their jobs, but also have tremendous responsibilities at home taking care of their families.”

Sally Mason Boemer, vice president for Finance, (left) shared her own experiences as a working mother at the MGH. “As someone whose productivity and job satisfaction is greatly enhanced by working a flexible schedule, I now have the pleasure of managing other women with similar needs and pressures as those I am experiencing,” she said. “I’ve scheduled urgent budget discussions for ‘after bedtime,’ and it is not uncommon for conference calls among my staff to include background noises from our children. I’m proud to work for an organization that values the contributions of employees like myself who strive for work-life balance.” The program also featured guest speaker Mary Ellen Heike, RN, staff specialist for women’s health, who was instrumental in preparing the application for the award.

The hospital offers a variety of programs that help MGH working mothers (below)– and all employees – take care of their families. These include child care, maternity and adoption leaves, flexible work schedules and seminars that address family issues offered by the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Working mothers at the MGH can build their careers and enhance their skills through multiple course offerings, on-the-job training, career development opportunities and scholarships and grants. The MGH also offers working mothers services to help them care for themselves, including a health and wellness series and on-site personal errand services.

For more information about the award and the many services the MGH offers working mothers, visit www2.massgeneral.org/workingmothers. Any MGH working mother who did not receive a gift pin at the event can pick one up at the Employee Access Center, Clinics 117, from 8:30 am to 4 pm.