Verizon Wireless Named One of Working Mother Magazine's 100 Best Companies

Bedminster, NJ — Verizon Wireless has been named by Working Mother magazine as one of the best places in the nation for a mother to work. The nation's leading provider of wireless communications was the only wireless and only telecommunications company honored in the magazine's annual "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" list, that identifies corporations that value the needs of working families. Factors considered by the magazine included advancement opportunities for women, flexible work schedules and special benefits.

Verizon Wireless received the honor because of its positive work environment for women, including its emphasis on domestic violence awareness and prevention, day care discounts, and prepaid tuition reimbursement for all employees, the magazine said in its October issue. Another benefit singled out is what the magazine coined the "$10 Baby," shorthand for the company's program for expectant mothers. Expectant mothers enrolled in the program pay only an initial $10 co-pay for complete prenatal care and no-cap delivery expense coverage.

"It's great to honor companies truly committed to the needs and values of working parents," says Working Mother Editor-in-Chief Jill Kirschenbaum. "Every year, we raise the bar, examining companies to determine their child care support, flexible schedules, leave for new parents, corporate/family-friendly culture and advancement of women."

"Many issues that face working women, including domestic violence and the need for child care, must be addressed in the workplace in order for dedicated employees to be successful - in both family and career," said Marc Reed, vice president of human resources for Verizon Wireless. "Today that means flexible scheduling; innovative benefits; sharing the company's success through long- and short-term incentives; and support for working mothers and fathers. And when our employees are successful, we're successful as a company too. We are delighted and honored to receive this recognition from Working Mother."

In addition to being featured in the October issue of the magazine, Verizon Wireless will also be profiled at www.workingmother.com, and on a prime-time television special, airing tonight on Working Mother Magazine's 100 Best Companies, at 8PM EST on CNBC.

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About Working Mother

Working Mother magazine, founded in 1979, reaches more than 3 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. Its 17-year signature "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" serves as a benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America. The magazine is part of Working Mother Media (WMM), which also owns the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), Executive Female, and the annual 100 Best Companies Work/Life Conference. In 2002, WMM launched a new initiative, Best Companies for Women of Color

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 30.3 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.

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