• Recruitment
• Workforce Trends

• Retention Strategies
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• Benefits
• Best Employers Program

University of Kentucky

Winning year: 2006
Industry: Education-Post Secondary
Location: Lexington, KY
URL: www.uky.edu

Winning Strategies 2006

Due to employee requests, the University of Kentucky revised their phased retirement program by lowering the age limit to 60 versus 65, and added a ‘surviving spouse health credit’ which allows surviving spouses of retirees the ability to receive half of the University’s retiree contribution to the costs of their surviving spouse health plan. The UK Temporary Employment agency recruits retirees via job fairs and coordinates with the UK Benefits Office to recruit University retirees to work in short term positions.

Other Benefits:

• Recruiting: University of Kentucky uses senior placement agencies to target retirees.
• Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: The University offers the following learning and development programs to its full and part-time employees: tuition reimbursement (16% used in past 12 months), in-house classroom training (27% used in past 12 months), on-line training, and certification classes (27% used in past 12 months). Employees must work 30 hours a week to be eligible for the tuition reimbursement program and 6 hours a week for the remaining programs. Long-service anniversaries are celebrated with announcements, parties, and awards.
• Benefits/Health: Full and part-time employees (working 7.5 hrs/week) receive individual and family medical coverage, individual and family prescription drug coverage, and individual and family vision and dental insurance. Full and part-time employees (working 32 hrs/week) receive individual and family long-term care insurance as well as short and long term disability. 71% of employees are enrolled in the individual medical and prescription drug coverage plans, and 43% of employees are enrolled in the employee and family medical and prescription drug plans. 23% of employees are enrolled in the individual vision plan, while 16% of employees are enrolled in the employee and family vision plan. 40% of employees are enrolled in the individual dental plan and 29% in the employee and family dental plan. 15% of employees are enrolled in the individual and family long-term care plan, 9% in the short-term disability plan, and 100% in the long-term disability plan. Health benefits for retirees pre-65 and 65+ include individual as well as spouse medical and drug coverage, individual and spouse dental and vision coverage, and EAP services. New hires are eligible for all of the above benefits upon retirement except for dental insurance for retiree and spouse for the 65+ age group. The University offers a health flexible spending account and a Healthtrac Rewards Program which allows health plan members the opportunity to earn an incentive up to $15/month.
• Benefits/Financial: The University offers a 403(b) retirement savings plan to its full and part-time employees. Full-time employees contribute 5% of their base salary to the 403(b) plan and the University provides a 10% match. Employees age 50+ can make ‘catch-up’ contributions to their 403(b) plan. The University offers on-site child care and elder care, and referral services to assist with child and elder care. The University’s Elder Care Office supports employees, retirees, and spouses nationally by providing helpful information, consultations, guidance, counseling, and referrals. 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, exercise programs, weight loss programs, and stress management training programs. In the past 12 months 65% of employees have utilized at least one of the above wellness benefits.
• Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: The University offers the following 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. The University’s phased retirement program offers faculty the option to work half-time at 50% of their salary and receive full benefits starting at age 60 if they have at least 15 years of full-time service. The University offers paid time off that is specifically designated for care giving.
• Opportunities for Retirees: The University currently has 2,500 retirees. There is an individual who has a direct responsibility for retiree relations. The University stays connected with its retirees by communicating on a regular basis with the retiree, inviting retirees to organization events/celebrations, providing retirees with ongoing access to retirement planning workshops, and formally acknowledging retirees on the occasion of their retirement. Retirees are offered temporary work assignments, consulting/contract work, part-time work, and full-time work is offered on a temporary basis.
• Age of Workforce: Thirty-four percent of the University’s employees are 50+. Thirteen percent of the University’s past twelve month new hires are 50+.