UCAR Recognized as Colorado's Best Nonprofit Employer for Working Families

August 17, 2005

BOULDER—The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) has been named by Colorado Parent magazine as one of the state's top employers for working families. The magazine's October issue ranks UCAR number one in the nonprofit category.

"We are very honored to be recognized as one of the best employers in the state," says UCAR president Richard Anthes. "UCAR has long prided itself on providing top-tier benefits to its employees, enabling them to balance their lives between work and personal pursuits."

UCAR is a consortium of 68 universities that oversees the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the UCAR Office of Programs.

The annual Colorado Parent contest, Best Companies for Working Families, recognizes employers that institute family-friendly policies. UCAR's most important family benefits include

• A new child care center, located just a few blocks from UCAR's largest campus, that offers exceptionally low teacher-child ratios as well as discounts for UCAR employees.
  
  
• Flexible work arrangements that allow staffers to telecommute as well as to adjust their schedules according to family needs.
  
  
• A family sick leave policy that allows staffers to take time off when children or other family members are ill. If a staffer cannot easily take the time off from work, UCAR helps defray the cost of hiring a designated child care professional to watch a sick child at home.
  
  
• Leave donation, which allows staffers who have accrued more vacation time than they need to donate to a pool for staffers who need to take time off for themselves or their families.
  
  
• A "stop the clock" policy that allows early-career scientists to take time off without being penalized for failing to adhere to a fixed schedule when moving up the scientific ranks.
  

"Our goal is to offer a full array of benefits to allow parents time with their children without detracting from their productivity," says Katy Schmoll, UCAR vice president for finance and administration.

Colorado Parent announced winners in four categories: large, medium, and small companies, and nonprofit organizations. A panel of judges, composed of community leaders, used such criteria as flexible work arrangements, child care assistance and support, adoption benefits, extended leave for new parents, subsidized health and wellness benefits, and community involvement.

The winners will be honored at an awards luncheon on Wednesday, October 12, at The Brown Palace Hotel from noon to 1:30 p.m. Former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm will be the keynote speaker. The magazine's October issue, with full coverage of the contest and winners, will be available at newsstands at the end of September.

 Related sites on the World Wide Web 

Colorado Parent home page

The National Center for Atmospheric Research and UCAR Office of Programs are operated by UCAR under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation and other agencies. Opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any of UCAR's sponsors.