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CAREER CORNER
Innovative program helps women leave but stay connected [By Michael Kinsman] In 1993, Deloitte was feeling pretty good about the opportunities it provided for female employees, recognizing that about half of all hires were women.
Yet, the big accounting, auditing and
contact with Deloitte mentors and access
young family. So she quit her job and intends
consulting firm discovered that when it came
to training. In return, Deloitte carries the
to spend the next five years raising her
time to promote individuals to partners after
costs of continuing the former employee’s
children before returning to Deloitte.
a few years of work, only 7 percent of the
professional licensing. “I know that the industry may change over
candidates were women. Deloitte had a pilot program in place for 18
that time, but that’s why you stay connected
“We knew something must be wrong,” says
months, before unveiling its formal program
to the company,” she says. “You know when
Anne Weisberg, senior adviser of Deloitte’s
in March. Currently, 29 Deloitte workers are
changes happen. You may not know the
Women’s Initiative, a program started at
on leave and five others are in the application
ins and outs of them, but you are at least
the company’s New York headquarters to
process.
comfortable with them.”
“These people have to quit their jobs, but we
Weisberg says the Deloitte program is all
are giving them an option of coming back
about retaining talented workers.
help with the retention and advancement of female employees. Deloitte has a wide range of work-life
to the company at a later time,” Weisberg
benefits, but it’s never been able to solve the
says. “We like to think of it as an option they
“We know that it’s hard to reconnect with
nagging issue of what to do about women
have and something that allows us to stay
women once they leave our company,” she
who want to spend time at home raising
connected to people we have invested in and
says. “This way we can keep that connection.
young children. As these women leave,
have relationships with.”
These are people who have already proven themselves with Deloitte and in whom the
the pool of women who could climb into management ranks at the 120,000-employee
The company hopes its flexibility results
company has invested. They’re a known
company is sharply reduced.
in savings on the costs of recruiting and
quantity.
training new employees. “We have based our business case around
“It’s something that always stumped us,” Amber Marsowicz, a senior audit manager
talent management. Talent is our only asset.
who worked for Deloitte for nine years, is
We need to do whatever we can to hold on to
In March, Deloitte introduced its Personal
one of those who has taken advantage of the
that talent.”
Pursuits program, designed to keep women
program. Marsowicz went on leave to care
connected to the company even if they
for her newborn daughter 16 months ago,
postpone their careers for up to five years at
and when it was time to return to work in
life consultant, said Deloitte is addressing an
a time.
March, she found herself pregnant with a
issue that many companies have ignored.
Weisberg says.
Virginia Byrd, a California career and work-
second child. “It’s a big issue to keeping women in the
Though it can be used by men and women alike, Deloitte admits the program targets
“I didn’t think they would like it too much if
work force,” she says. “It really does effect
women and how to keep their professional
I came back for a few months and then left
the economy, because when women don’t
lives afloat.
again,” she says.
get this flexibility and drop out, it’s a kind of
Under the program, an employee may quit
Marsowicz considered part-time employment
a job at Deloitte but maintain a relationship
or a flexible work schedule but decided that
It also gives Deloitte an advantage in
with the company through semiannual
the best thing was to concentrate on her
competing for talent, Byrd says.
brain drain.”
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CAREER CORNER
“Other companies are going to have to catch up, unless they are willing to give up on talent. But that doesn’t sound like a very good idea, does it?”
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