Talk of the bay

Working moms' prospects scarce in Florida, magazine says

If you're a mother looking for a great place to work, chances are good it won't be in Florida. Florida companies are scarce on Working Mother magazine's annual list of best companies for working mothers.

One that did make the grade: JFK Medical Center in Palm Beach County. The magazine gave it high marks for for its promotion of women to management, its new charter elementary school and its "Parent Night Out" program offering Saturday night day care. Baptist Health South Florida also is a regular on the list, but Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, which once made the grade, no longer ranks.

Of course, some of the highly rated companies based elsewhere have a substantial Florida presence, including Bank of America, Target and Wachovia Corp. Wachovia is listed in the magazine's Top 10, getting kudos for its child care programs, including backup day care at $15 a day.

Companies that made the list are more likely than others to offer flexible work schedules, help with elder care and physical fitness programs.