FORT WORTH, Texas - Despite financial challenges that have roiled the airline industry, American Airlines today was named the only airline to Working Mother magazine’s 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers.
American has been named to the list four times, “which underscores how important it is, especially in difficult times, to provide a workplace that offers our people support, flexibility and opportunity,” said Sue Oliver, senior vice president of Human Resources.
The magazine singled out companies that continued to provide workplace programs—along with assistance, flexibility and support—in the wake of Sept. 11 and the resulting economic downturn. “Through it all, American maintained its efforts to help employees balance work and life,” the magazine said.
“We felt the best way to recover from the events of September 11 was to keep moving forward,” Oliver said. “We continued our commitment to advancing women in the company, strengthened our employee-driven Moms AAt Work program, supported training and career development, enhanced our service to employees, and maintained the flexibility and life balance in the workplace that our employees need.”
She noted that American has three employee groups focused on women’s issues at American: Moms AAt Work, Women in Aviation and 40-Plus employees.
American this year also adopted a new “zero tolerance” diversity policy, set specific objectives to advance women in the company, and provided new training programs to help employees meet those objectives.
The airline made special mention of its Employee Assistance and Life Balance programs in this year’s judging. “Our Employee Assistance program rallied to give our people real and personal support in the aftermath of September 11,” Oliver said. “Our Life Balance program continues to help employees with issues that affect their personal lives, whether it be finding a child or elder care provider, or assisting a child with special needs,” she said.

American also has a variety of programs to help employees create flexible schedules to balance their work and personal lives. And, with the completion of American’s employee home computer purchase program, the company began making more information and products available on-line, so that employees can have better, more convenient access to company services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
American also recently won the Latina Style list of Top 50 Companies for Latinas, the “Out & Equal Award for Workplace Excellence” for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, the Jerry R. Junkins Award and DiversityInc.com honors for workplace diversity programs.
“Our mission is to ensure that we offer structure, support, and a range of available choices to our employees,” Oliver said. “And in keeping with our primary goal to make American a great place to work, these recognitions are a great honor.”

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