Crowe provides paid parental leave and a flexible mobility strategy
CHICAGO, Dec. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Crowe Horwath LLP, one of the largest public accounting, consulting and technology firms in the U.S., was ranked 20th on the Fortune 50 Best Workplaces for Parents list. The list is based on feedback from more than 122,482 working parents at Great Place to Work®-certified companies.
Arjun Kalra, a principal in Crowe risk consulting, said Crowe's parental leave policy was a game-changer for him and his family. "It provided us with the flexibility to plan for time off, both when my son was born and when my wife went back to work after her maternity leave," Kalra said.
Crowe's parental leave policy is comprised of a short-term disability period for birth mothers and an additional six weeks of full paid time off for all parents – including mothers, fathers, partners and adoptive parents. The six weeks can be taken in full or in two-week increments within a one-year period. Additionally, Crowe offers an adoption assistance reimbursement benefit of up to $5,000 to provide financial support to eligible personnel who are adopting.
Since the beginning of the firm's fiscal year in April, 99 people – 55 percent women and 45 percent men – have taken advantage of this parental leave policy. More than two dozen additional personnel are expected to take parental leave by fiscal year-end in March 2017.
"Being home for the first four weeks after my son was born allowed for amazing bonding time with my family that I will always remember and cherish," Kalra said. "Additionally, Crowe's parental leave demonstrates its recognition that all parents, regardless of gender, serve as caregivers. I'm so proud to work for a firm with the right values."
Mobile technology applications and the Crowe mobility strategy allow people to work wherever they are most productive – whether that's at a client site, in a Crowe office, from home or from another remote location. Parents are able to flex their schedules to chaperone field trips, drop off and pick up children from school, attend extracurricular activities, go on college visits, and so much more, without the restrictions of a strictly scheduled workday.
"Supporting new parents as they bond with their new child is important, and we also want parents to feel supported through all of their children's life stages," said Julie Wood, Crowe chief people officer. "The combination of our mobility strategy and leave policies is the key in helping parents at Crowe feel they can be part of a high performing team at work while staying involved in their children's day-to-day lives."
Angela Frazier, a Crowe assistant director and regional office manager, said this policy played a positive and significant role in her journey as a first-time mom.
"Because I have an employer that understands and encourages work-life balance, my husband and I have been able to maintain much-needed flexibility after we welcomed our baby girl in May," Frazier said. "After taking maternity leave, I took advantage of the firm's mobility strategy and worked remotely from my in-laws' home in Atlanta, then my parents' home in North Carolina. This allowed my daughter to spend time with her grandparents while I was able to get back into my daily work routine."
According to Fortune and Great Place to Work, the companies were selected based on parents' assessment of their company's fairness, camaraderie, professional opportunities and other factors essential to a rewarding career. Fortune and Great Place to Work also named Crowe to the lists for recent graduates, millennials and women.
For more information on the benefits of working at Crowe, please visit the Crowe benefits page.
About Crowe Horwath
Crowe Horwath LLP (www.crowehorwath.com) is one of the largest public accounting, consulting, and technology firms in the United States. Crowe uses its deep industry expertise to provide audit services to public and private entities while also helping clients reach their goals with tax, advisory, risk and performance services. Crowe is recognized by many organizations as one of the country's best places to work. Crowe serves clients worldwide as an independent member of Crowe Horwath International, one of the largest global accounting networks in the world. The network consists of more than 200 independent accounting and advisory services firms in more than 130 countries around the world.
SOURCE Crowe Horwath LLP
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