The 300 employers who made Forbes' list of best employers for women received the most recommendations and have the most gender-diverse boards and executive ranks. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Many employers "get" what's important to their female workers, according to Forbes' first-ever ranking of America's Best Employers For Women 2018. "It really does start with the culture of the organization," says Kerry Gumm, director of human resources strategy at Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa, which tops the list. Related: Why are women dropping out of the workforce? While benefits such as flexible work schedules, prenatal care programs and an onsite childcare center help Principal Financial attract female employees, it's the company's commitment to equality that retains them, Gumm says. A 20-year veteran of the firm, Gumm believes the company's respectful, safe environment has made it an employer of choice for women. "You can have a holistic life if you're part of this organization," she says. "I've not felt the need to compromise in any way." Forbes' list was based on a survey conducted by Statista on behalf of the publication. The market research company surveyed 40,000 Americans, including 25,000 women, working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. Respondents were first asked to rate their employers on criteria such as working conditions, diversity and how likely they'd be to recommend their employer to others. Statista would adjust an employer's score if there were marked differences between the answers of the female and male employees. The female respondents then rated their employers on factors such as parental leave, discrimination and pay equity, and were also asked to nominate organizations in industries outside their own. The 300 employers who made the list received the most recommendations and have the most gender diverse boards and executive ranks. Here is how the top 10 scored: