07/12/2022

For the third consecutive year, Saint Louis University was recognized by the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis (WFSTL) as a top place for women to work. This is WFSTL’s fifth annual “Women in the Workplace: Employment Scorecard.”

SLU was recognized as one of four large St. Louis employers demonstrating excellence in four areas of workplace gender equity – leadership, compensation, flexible work policies, and recruitment and retention. The other 500-plus employee institutions honored this year include Graybar, Maritz and Enterprise Bank & Trust. 

“We are honored to be recognized once again as a top place for women to work in the St. Louis area,” said Mickey Luna, vice president of human resources at SLU. “This award affirms our ongoing efforts to make SLU an inclusive and equitable workplace.”

Luna said he is particularly proud of the implementation of the University’s Interim Flexible Work policy and the increasing number of women in senior leadership at the University over the past year.

“We are grateful to WFSTL for this opportunity to highlight the work SLU and other local employers are doing to make our workplaces attractive to women and supportive of their advancement. ”

The Women in the Workplace Scorecard recognizes 24 small, medium, and large companies in the St. Louis region that showed a strong commitment to women in the workplace through measurable outcomes, key policies, and best practices.

Criteria include demonstrating results with women in a minimum of 28 percent of top leadership roles; a minimum of 25 percent of women in the top 10 percent of the most highly compensated employees; a starting wage higher than the Missouri minimum wage; family-friendly flexible work policies; and recruitment and retention programs targeted at advancing women. 

Unlike many “Best Places to Work” reports that rely on employee opinion surveys, the Women in the Workplace: Employment Scorecard looks at objective criteria and outcomes. Through a blind data review process by a six-person panel, the Scorecard evaluates company employment practices and their impact on gender diversity. Designated organizational representatives were asked to answer specific questions based on existing policies, practices or employee data.

Saint Louis University supports employees through a variety of practices and policies across campus.

• The University’s comprehensive benefits package, which begins on day one of employment, offers medical, vision and dental options; annuity and retirement plans and long-term disability.
• SLU offers greater than market sick time, parental leave and sick caregiver leave.
• The University has wellness programs dedicated to ensuring work/life balance.
• Parental leave benefits allow faculty and staff members who are new parents time to care for and bond with newborn and adopted children.
• SLU offers professional and personal development options and growth opportunities to both faculty and staff.

“This year’s honorees are committed to helping women in the workplace thrive in our region, and they continue to overcome pandemic challenges by ensuring their policies and practices meet the current needs of women,” said Carrie Crompton, executive director of WFSTL. “Many women in the St. Louis region have not returned to the workforce due to a lack of childcare and equitable workplace benefits. The purpose of the Women’s Foundation’s annual Scorecard report is to educate area employers on how to create workplaces where women can be successful.”

SLU will be formally recognized at the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis’ annual Making a Difference event in September. For access to the full report, visit wfstl.org. 

Saint Louis University

Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers nearly 13,000 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University’s diverse community of scholars is SLU’s service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place.