AARP NAMES DC-BASED FINRA, Pepco Holdings, Inc and VHA 2009 BEST EMPLOYERS FOR WORKERS OVER 50
Applications Set Record for 9 Year Old Program
Washington, DC – FINRA, Pepco Holdings, Inc (PHI) and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), all based in Washington, DC, have been named by AARP to its 2009 list of Best Employers for Workers 50 and Over. The three organizations join an impressive list of 50 honorees announced today by AARP CEO Barry Rand.
More than 200 employers applied for Best Employers honors, the highest total in the nine year history of the program designed to highlight exemplary policies toward aged 50 and over workers.
“Employers are increasingly recognizing the importance of innovative policies - generous health and wellness benefits, opportunities for continuing education, and alternative work arrangements such as flextime and job sharing - as they seek to retain and recruit experienced workers,” said AARP DC Interim Director Louis Davis, Jr.
“FINRA, PHI and the Department of Veterans Affairs have demonstrated progressive policies and programs for workers over 50, and have earned the honor,” added Davis.
FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. The company provides employees with generous benefits and educational/training opportunities in addition to a flexible environment for employees of all ages. FINRA retirees can take advantage of many of the same health benefits as active employees and can be rehired in various capacities. Twenty percent of FINRA employees are 50+.
Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI) has successfully hired mature workers or retirees through senior placement agencies and also turns to their own retirees when looking to fill a position. PHI is currently working toward formalizing a phased retirement program for workers and offers their pre- and 65+ retirees most of the same health benefits as current employees. The company offers flexible work arrangements and emphasizes cross-department/field training learning and development opportunities. Forty-eight percent of the company’s employees are 50 and older, with an average tenure of 26 years.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) emphasizes continued learning and development for its employees. Various tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness programs, scholarships, training resources and training requirements result in a highly skilled workforce. Fifty percent of VHA employees are age 50+.
A separate hospitals and health care Best Employers honor roll was established by AARP for the first time this year. AARP decided to set up a separate category in order to acknowledge efforts in the health care field to creatively deal with shortages in qualified workers that have faced the health care industry for years.
Any U.S.-based employer with at least 50 employees is eligible to apply for the Best Employers award. Candidates are vetted to ensure that practices meet the needs of mature workers. Key areas of consideration include: recruiting practices, opportunities for training, education and career development; workplace accommodations; alternative work options, such as flexible scheduling, job sharing, and phased retirement; employee health and retirement benefits and retiree work opportunities
AARP The Magazine will feature the 2009 Best Employers in its November-December issue, available in homes September 24. The article will be found online then at
www.aarpmagazine.org
Included is background on each employer’s workforce practices and a description of the selection process.
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