LIVONIA, Mich., April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Valassis (NYSE: VCI), a leader in intelligent media delivery, announced today its inclusion on Working Mother magazine's esteemed list of the "Best Companies for Hourly Workers" for the third consecutive year. The award recognizes employers with the best policies and programs for promoting women and a dynamic work/life culture. Valassis is one of only 12 companies that made the list in 2013, and one of two companies based in Michigan, where Valassis is headquartered.

For 27 years, Working Mother has spotlighted best practices and honored companies that are dedicated to supporting their hourly workers. They score companies on policies and programs meant to help hourly workers succeed and advance, including health benefits, employee assistance programs, paid leave, training and flexibility.

At Valassis, numerous work schedules exist to meet business needs while also offering opportunities for family time, recognizing the importance of work/life balance. Valassis' culture also enables associates to take care of family needs such as school meetings, doctor's appointments and children's activities.

"Our associates give their all to our business and Valassis, in turn, strives to provide a great total rewards experience for them," said Leslie Lenser, Valassis Senior Vice President of Human Resources. "We also provide flexibility in the workplace whether is it through our expanded program with a focus on work from home or to accommodate special needs as they arise."

Jill Canada, an hourly Valassis associate in Deer Park, Texas, experienced firsthand the company's culture of flexibility when she learned in February 2012 that she was pregnant with twins. With the excitement came a bit of worry when she learned her high-risk pregnancy would require weekly doctor appointments until she delivered and that she would need to spend her last trimester on bed rest.

"Upon hearing my news, my supervisor congratulated me with smiles and hugs and simply told me not to worry," Canada said. "I was told my position was secure no matter how many doctors' appointments I had or how much time I needed to take off. Additionally, after returning from maternity leave, Canada modified her hours and works from home two days a week. "This has given me an extra hour each night with my babies, savings on gas, as well as all the added benefits working from home brings. I feel very blessed to work for a company with such integrity and heart for their associates. Valassis has become an extension of my family and for that I am grateful."

In 2012, Valassis expanded and formalized its workplace flexibility with a focus on meeting both business and individual needs. The program includes part-time schedules, flexible hours, and work from home or job sharing, to name a few options. This move toward increased flexibility has come at a time when some companies have made news for tightening their work-from-home policies.

In addition to flexible schedules, Valassis also provides a host of convenient services with a focus on a culture where work/life balance is encouraged. Among these amenities are onsite workout facilities and discounts, health fairs/flu shots, dry cleaning, postal services and discount tickets, to name a few.

The Best Companies List includes: 



    Best Buy                             Richfield, Minn.
    --------                             ----------------

    Bon Secours Virginia                 Richmond, Va.
    --------------------                 -------------

    Capital One Financial                McLean, Va.
    ---------------------                -----------

    General Motors                       Detroit, Mich.
    --------------                       --------------

    Hilton Worldwide                     McLean, Va.
    ----------------                     -----------

    Marriott International               Bethesda, Md.
    ----------------------               -------------

    Mercy Health System                  Janesville, Wis.
    -------------------                  ----------------

    Sodexo                               Gaithersburg, Md.
    ------                               -----------------

    University of New Mexico Hospitals   Albuquerque, N.M.
    ----------------------------------   -----------------

    University of Wisconsin Hospital
     and Clinics                         Madison, Wis.
    --------------------------------     -------------

    Valassis                             Livonia, Mich.
    --------                             --------------

    WellStar Health System               Marietta, Ga.
    ----------------------               -------------

Companies will be featured in the April/May 2013 issue of Working Mother and at http://www.workingmother.com/best-companies/2013-best-companies-hourly-workers.

About Valassis
Valassis (NYSE: VCI) is a leader in intelligent media delivery, providing over 15,000 advertisers proven and innovative media solutions to influence consumers wherever they plan, shop, buy and share. By integrating online and offline data combined with powerful insights, Valassis precisely targets its clients' most valuable shoppers, offering unparalleled reach and scale. Valassis subsidiaries include Brand.net, a Valassis Digital Company, and NCH Marketing Services, Inc. Valassis consumer brands include RedPlum® and save.com. Its signature Have You Seen Me?® program delivers hope to missing children and their families. To learn more, visit Valassis.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: price competition from our existing competitors; new competitors in any of our businesses; possible consolidation in our client base, a significant decrease in the number of stores in our in-store retailer network or a shift in client preferences for different promotional materials, strategies or coupon delivery methods, including, without limitation, as a result of declines in newspaper circulation and/or increased competition from new media formats including digital; an unforeseen increase in paper or postal costs; changes which affect the businesses of our clients and lead to reduced sales promotion spending, including, without limitation, a decrease of marketing budgets which are generally discretionary in nature and easier to reduce in the short-term than other expenses; our substantial indebtedness, and ability to refinance such indebtedness, if necessary, and our ability to incur additional indebtedness, may affect our financial health; the financial condition, including bankruptcies, of our clients, suppliers, senior secured credit facility lenders or other counterparties; certain covenants in our debt documents could adversely restrict our financial and operating flexibility; fluctuations in the amount, timing, pages, weight and kinds of advertising pieces from period to period, due to a change in our clients' promotional needs, inventories and other factors, including, without limitation, high levels of coupon redemption rates; our failure to attract and retain qualified personnel may affect our business and results of operations; a rise in interest rates could increase our borrowing costs; governmental regulation or litigation affecting aspects of our business, including laws and regulations related to the internet, internet-related technologies and activities, privacy and data security; potential security measure breaches or attacks; clients experiencing financial difficulties, or otherwise being unable to meet their obligations as they become due, could affect our results of operations and financial condition; uncertainty in the application and interpretation of applicable state sales tax laws may expose us to additional sales tax liability; a reduction in, or discontinuance of, dividend payments or stock repurchases; and general economic conditions, whether nationally, internationally, or in the market areas in which we conduct our business, including the adverse impact of the ongoing economic downturn on the marketing expenditures and activities of our clients and prospective clients as well as our vendors, with whom we rely on to provide us with quality materials at the right prices and in a timely manner. These and other risks and uncertainties related to our business are described in greater detail in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including our reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and the foregoing information should be read in conjunction with these filings. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Valassis