GRDC Member News and Kudos

Aetna Named To 'Top 30 Companies for Executive Women'
By Paul Sheren, Human Resources Communications
For the fifth straight year, Aetna ranked as a top company for executive women on the list compiled by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) and published in the current issue of Executive Female magazine.

Aetna, which placed 14th in the "Top 30 Companies for Executive Women," is the only company based in Connecticut and one of only two in the entire health insurance industry to make the list. WellPoint Health Networks also made the list.

The list recognizes Fortune 1000 companies that have at least two women on their boards of directors and rank women leaders among their top earners. The ranking also takes into account issues such as work/life flexibility and innovative programs, benefits, and services aimed at retaining and recognizing working women.

Although it is getting easier for women to succeed in top companies, pay equity for women still is a long way off. Only 16 of this year's top 30 companies include at least one woman among their top five earners. And while women make up 28 percent of the top earners in the top 10 companies on the list, the percentage drops to 14.7 percent for the entire "top 30." This still is higher than 5.2 percent of female top earners in the entire Fortune 500 list.

This story appeared on the AetNet 1/28/03.