News Release

HSBC Named to Top 10 2006 Working Mother Magazine's 100 Best Companies List

Annual Initiative Honors Women- and Family-Friendly Benefits and Policies

25 September 2006

NEW YORK, NY (September 25, 2006)-Working Mother magazine today announced that HSBC - North America is ranked in the top 10 of Working Mother's  2006 100 Best Companies.   For 21 years the Working Mother 100 Best Companies has celebrated employers whose groundbreaking benefits-from flexible schedules and child care to innovative leave policies for new parents-are helping redefine workplace standards across the nation.

"HSBC is exceptional for its continuing commitment to working mothers, and we salute them for making the 100 Best for the 13th time," said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media.  "Every year we see companies upping the ante, establishing new paradigms for quality of life among their employees and redefining the status quo for workplaces across the country.  Among the many worthy entrants, the winners really set the gold standard."   

"I congratulate HSBC for helping its working mother employees balance the demands of their work and home lives," said Suzanne Riss, Editor-in-Chief of Working Mother magazine.  "HSBC recognizes that outstanding family-friendly programs not only improve employees' lives but also give the company leverage in its ability to attract and retain top talent."

Riss continued, "It is also important to realize that it is not enough for companies to have work/life programs; we measure the success of these programs.  We track whether employees use them, and whether the programs are getting better each year.  HSBC has risen to our challenge."

Profiled in the October issue of Working Mother magazine, HSBC is celebrated for creating a work environment that is especially hospitable to all women, including working mothers.  In making family-friendly policies, including flextime, childcare and telecommuting, the norm, the 100 Best are creating corporate cultures that encourage the retention and promotion of their female employees.

"We are proud to be named to the top 10 of this list of phenomenal, family-focused organizations," said Steve Gonabe, executive vice president, administration at HSBC - North America.  "We attract and retain the very best people in the business because we listen to our employees and invest in their success at home and at work."

HSBC - North America offers an array of world-class rewards that help employees manage their careers and lifestyles.  Programs include everything from a time off program to employee networking groups, including a Women's Forum.  HSBC also sponsors several on-site childcare centers for working mothers who require full- or part-time care, or back-up care, for their children.  These centers have been beneficial for relocating employees and those who must travel for business unexpectedly, fulfilling childcare on an emergency basis as well as helping to ease the return to work for new moms.
 
In surveying the companies that applied for this year's list, Working Mother gave particular weight to questions in two areas:  flexible scheduling, the most critical benefit for working mothers; and leave time, because it is essential for parents to be able to take time off from work, whether it is several months to bond with newborns or several years to be at home with children during their most formative years.

Methodology:  To apply for the Working Mother 100 Best, HSBC - North America provided Working Mother magazine with detailed information on seven areas of work/life balance including workforce profile, compensation, child care, flexibility, time off and leaves, family-friendly programs and company culture.  HSBC completed a 500+ question application, the most rigorous of its kind, which checked the availability, tracking and usage of programs to support working mothers, the accountability of managers to implement programs and the successful advancement of women into top paying jobs, board position and management ranks.  HSBC was also required to submit benefits handbooks and supporting documentation.

The complete list of the 2006 Working Mother 100 Best Companies can be found at www.workingmother.com.

Media Contacts

• Diane Soucy Bergan
• diane.soucy.bergan@us.hsbc.com
• HSBC - North America
• 847-564-6761