An increasing number of working mothers are taking extended leaves, sometimes up to five years, in order to care for their children. In response to this, companies are looking for ways to retain working mothers. One such program, about to be launched by accounting firm Deloitte & Touche, allows employees to take unpaid leaves of up to five years. The firm will offer training sessions and assign a mentor to employees on leave in order to keep them connected to the workforce. Companies are going to such great lengths to retain these workers because recruiting and training new workers is very costly.
See "Firms target moms on leave from work", Anne Marie Chaker, Chicago Tribune, January 6, 2004