AARP SmartBrief
Best Employers Program Honorees
Noblis, Inc. (formerly known as Mitretek Systems)
Winning Year: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002
Industry: Engineering/Research
Location: Falls Church, VA
URL: www.noblis.org
Highlights of 2007 Winning Strategies
The company's phased retirement program is offered to regular full-time employees on a case-by-case basis. The approved employees work in regular part-time status, which is at least 20 hours per week.
Additional Policies and Practices:
- Recruiting: Noblis posts job openings with Corporate Gray and periodically sends retirees job information.
- Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: Noblis offers these learning and development programs to employees working at least 20 hours per week: tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, on-line training, and certification classes. In the past 12 months, 100% of Noblis employees participated in at least one of these training opportunities with an average of 24 hours spent in training. Due to employee requests, Noblis has added health information sessions and "Wellness Wednesdays" to address employee health concerns. Cross-functional teams and team projects are implemented so employees can develop new skills.
- Benefits/Health: Full- and part-time employees (working 20+ hrs/week) receive individual and family medical coverage, individual and family prescription drug coverage, individual and family vision and dental insurance, individual and family long-term care insurance, and short- and long-term disability. Health benefits for retirees pre-65 and 65+ include individual and spouse medical and drug coverage, and new hires are eligible for these benefits upon retirement. Noblis offers an FSA plan to assist employees with out-of-pocket health care costs.
- Benefits/Financial: To its full- and part-time employees, Noblis offers a 403(b) retirement savings plan (with company contribution). Employees age 50+ can make catch-up contributions to the 403(b) plan. Noblis offers short-term time off without pay and long-term leaves of absence without pay for caregiving. Full- and part-time employees are offered these wellness programs: flu shots, health screenings, health risk appraisals, smoking cessation programs, health club discounts, weight loss programs, stress management training, and martial arts training. Noblis has an on site nurse who offers services such as blood pressure screenings and administration of shots. Noblis offers these dependent care services to its full- and part-time employees: on site childcare, backup care for childcare, and referral services to assist with childcare and eldercare (all services also include grandchildren).
- Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: To its full- and part-time employees, Noblis offers these alternative work arrangements: flex-time, compressed work schedules, telecommuting, and a formal phased retirement program. Full-time employees are eligible to move to part-time work on a permanent and temporary basis.
- Opportunities for Retirees: Noblis currently has 40 retirees and an individual directly responsible for retiree relations. Noblis stays connected with its retirees by communicating regularly, inviting retirees to organization events/celebrations, providing retirement planning workshops/information, and formally acknowledging them when they retire. Retirees are offered temporary work assignments, consulting/contract work, telecommuting, and full- and part-time work.
- Age of Workforce: Proprietary
- Recruiting: Mitretek Systems, Inc. posts its job openings with Corporate Gray, an organization which targets senior and retiring military officers.
- Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: The company offers the following learning and development programs to its full- and part-time employees: tuition reimbursement (10% used in past 12 months), in-house classroom training (80% used in past 12 months), on-line training (50% used in past 12 months), and certification classes (51% used in past 12 months). Part-time employees must work 20 hrs/week to be eligible for the tuition reimbursement and certification classes programs. Long-service anniversaries are celebrated with announcements, parties, and awards. The company's 20 and 30 year service employees are treated to a theater performance as well.
- Benefits/Health: Full- and part-time employees (working 20 hrs/week), receive individual and family medical coverage, individual and family prescription drug coverage, and individual and family vision and dental insurance, individual and family long-term care insurance, as well as short- and long-term disability. Twenty-eight percent of employees are enrolled in the individual medical and prescription drug coverage plans, while 49% of employees are enrolled in the employee and family medical and drug coverage plans. Twenty-eight percent of employees are enrolled in the individual vision insurance plan, 77% in the employee and family vision insurance plan, 25% in the individual dental plan, 57% in the employee and family dental plan, 90% in the individual long-term care plan, 10% in the employee and family long-term care plan, 90% enrolled in the short-term disability plan, and 77% in the long-term disability plan. Health benefits for retirees pre-65 and 65+ include individual as well as spouse medical and drug coverage, and vision insurance. New hires are eligible for all of the above retiree benefits upon retirement. The company offers a health flexible spending account.
- Benefits/Financial: The company offers a 403(b) retirement savings plan to its full- and part-time employees. Employees age 50+ can make "catch-up" contributions to their 403(b). The company offers on-site child care, and referral services to assist with child care and elder care. The on-site child care and referral service to assist with child care are offered to employees to use for their grandchildren. The following wellness programs are offered to full- and part-time employees: flu shots, health screenings, health risk appraisals, smoking cessation programs, health club discounts, and exercise programs. In the past 12 months, 13% of employees have utilized at least one of the above wellness programs.
- Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: The company offers the following alternative work arrangements to its full- and part-time employees: flex time (90% participation), compressed work schedules (50% participation), telecommuting (10% participation), and a formal phased retirement program (1% participation). Full-time employees are eligible to move to part-time work on a permanent and temporary basis.
- Opportunities for Retirees: The company currently has 75 retirees. The company stays connected with its retirees by inviting retirees to organization events/celebrations, and formally acknowledging retirees on the occasion of their retirement. Retirees are offered the following work arrangements: temporary work assignments (four used in past 12 months), consulting/contract work (three used in past 12 months), telecommuting, as well as full- and part-time work (one used in past 12 months).
- Full- and part-time employees (minimum 20 hours/week) pay 30 percent of the premium for health and prescription drug coverage.
- Mitretek has a 401(k) plan for both full-time and part-time employees (minimum 20 hours/week). All employee contributions, as well as any Mitretek matching contributions, are fully vested immediately.
Mitretek Systems, Inc.'s phased retirement program is considered on a case-by-case basis and allows the employee to work 20 hours per week and collect partial benefits. Due to employee requests, the company periodically offers "Wellness Wednesday" health information sessions, which address topics of employee interest.
Other Benefits:
At Mitretek Systems, Inc., continuing education is integral to the company's vision. The company encourages its employees to enhance their skills and develop their careers through a range of learning and development opportunities, including tuition assistance. Employees also can work in different areas. The organization offers flexible work arrangements. The company fosters professional development by regular meetings of managers and employees to set goals and regularly track progress. Managers recommend and sponsor training and development and/or formal education through colleges and universities.
Employees 55 and older can phase into retirement by working a reduced schedule according to the company's needs. An advisory group of workers 50 and older helps Mitretek develop appropriate flexible work schedules for those who do not want to retire but do want to work, albeit with shorter hours. Mitretek stays in touch with retirees, hiring them for assignments of all types, including full-time work, and inviting them to the corporation's events and celebrations.
Benefits:
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