• Recruitment
• Workforce Trends

• Retention Strategies
• Workplace Law

• Benefits
• Best Employers Program

Saint Vincent Health System

Winning year: 2007
Industry: Hospitals/Healthcare
Location: Erie, PA
URL: www.saintvincenthealth.com

Highlights of 2007 Winning Strategies

Saint Vincent Health System retirees stay connected to the organization via the "Retired Saint Vincent Valued Pacesetter" program, which hosts numerous events throughout the year. The phased retirement program allows employees to work up to 1,000 hours annually and collect pensions at the same time.

Additional Policies and Practices:

• Recruiting: Saint Vincent uses senior placement agencies to target retirees.
• Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: Saint Vincent offers these learning and development programs to its full- and part-time employees (working at least 8 hrs/week): tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, on-line training, certification classes, and defined benefit pension calculator training. In the past 12 months, 100% of Saint Vincent employees participated in at least one of these training opportunities with an average of 11.3 hours spent in training. Saint Vincent's Quarter Century Club is for those employed with the health system for 25 or more years. Due to employee requests, benefits enhancements have been made, including: adoption of Quarter Century Club, creation of Human Resource Customer Service Enhancement program, and creation of on-line defined benefit pension calculator. Employees are put on temporary assignments in other departments and work on team projects to gain new experiences. Accommodations are made for employees with special needs. Aging nurses finding it difficult to meet the physical demands of the job were transitioned into the call center department where their responsibilities were less physically demanding.
• Benefits/Health: Full- and part-time employees (working 4+ hrs/week) receive individual and family medical coverage, individual and family prescription drug coverage, and individual and family vision and dental insurance. Employees working at least 35 hours per week are eligible for short- and long-term disability insurance. Health benefits for retirees pre-65 and 65+ include individual and spouse medical and drug coverage, vision and dental insurance, and EAP services. New hires are eligible for all these benefits upon retirement. Saint Vincent offers an FSA plan to assist employees with out-of-pocket health care costs.
• Benefits/Financial: Saint Vincent offers a 401(k) plan (with employer match), a defined-benefit plan, and a money-purchase defined contribution plan to its full- and part-time employees. Employees may invest in lifecycle funds, and employees 50+ can make catch-up contributions. Employees also receive financial planning information from the firm that administers their 401(k) and from external experts not associated with the 401(k). In addition, the health system gives employees an opportunity to meet with two different investment advisors monthly. Saint Vincent offers short-term time off without pay as well as long-term leaves of absence without pay to allow for caregiving. The health system has a Special Needs Bank designed to accept PTO donations from other employees who wish to give their PTO to a co-worker. 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, physical activity/exercise programs, weight loss programs, and stress management training. Also offered are an on site fitness center, personal trainers, fitness classes, a wellness speaker series, and an annual Health Fair. Sixty-seven percent of Saint Vincent employees have utilized at least one of these wellness benefits in the past 12 months. Saint Vincent offers on site childcare, backup care for childcare, and referral services to assist with childcare/care for grandchildren/eldercare to its full- and part-time employees. The on site childcare and pre-school centers may be used for employee's children, grandchildren, and/or legal dependents. Elder Support information is offered to employees, and an "Elder Kit" booklet contains planning information on topics such as finances and banking, personal property, emergency contact list, daily medical log, and pet information and instructions.
• Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: Saint Vincent offers these alternative work arrangements to its full- and part-time employees: flex-time, compressed work schedules, job sharing, 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: Saint Vincent currently has 564 retirees and has an individual directly responsible for retiree relations. Saint Vincent 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 part-time work. There are 33 retirees currently working within the system on a per diem basis.
• Age of Workforce: Thirty-three percent of Saint Vincent employees are 50+. The average tenure of employees age 50+ is 17.3 years.