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Yuma Regional Medical Center

Winning year: 2006
Industry: Hospitals/Healthcare
Location: Yuma, AZ
URL: www.yumaregional.org

Winning Strategies 2006

Yuma Regional Medical Center’s phased retirement program allows employees to work up to 40 hours per month and not be penalized on retirement benefits. The employee must be at least age 55 with 10 years of service to qualify for the retirement program. Twenty-six percent of the hospital’s employees are age 50+.

Other Benefits:

• Recruiting: Yuma Regional Medical Center recruits part-time staff with their Seasonal Hiring Program, allowing employees to work three, six, or nine months a year.
• Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: The hospital offers the following learning and development programs to its full and part-time employees: tuition reimbursement (17% used past 12 months), in-house classroom training, and on-line training (97% used past 12 months). Part-time employees must work 30 hours per week to be eligible for the tuition reimbursement program. Long-service anniversaries are celebrated with announcements, parties, awards, and YEAH!Bucks which provide employees with options to purchase jewelry, merchandise, travel, gift cards, etc.
• Benefits/Health: Full-time employees, working at least 30 hours per week receive individual and family medical coverage, individual and family prescription drug coverage, individual and family vision insurance, individual and family dental insurance, as well as short and long-term disability. Part-time employees, working at least 20 hours per week, receive individual medical and prescription drug coverage, individual vision insurance, and short-term disability. 25% of employees are enrolled in the individual medical plan, 46% in the employee and family medical plan, 72% in the individual prescription drug plan, 46% in the employee and family prescription drug plan, 25% in the individual vision plan, 46% in the employee and family vision plan, 26% in the individual dental plan, 45% in the employee and family dental plan, 83% in the short-term disability plan, and 78% in the long-term disability plan. The hospital offers a health flexible spending account.
• Benefits/Financial: The hospital offers a defined benefit and a 401(k) retirement savings plan to its full and part-time employees. 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, stress management training, and weight loss programs. 57% of employees have utilized at least one of the above wellness benefits in the past 12 months. Back-up sick child care is offered on-site.
• Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: The hospital offers the following alternative work arrangements to its full and part-time employees: flex time, compressed work schedules, job sharing, a formal phased retirement program, and telecommuting. Full-time employees are eligible to move to part-time work on a permanent and temporary basis.
• Opportunities for Retirees: The hospital currently has 300 retirees. There is an individual who has a direct responsibility for retiree relations. The hospital stays connected with its retirees by inviting retirees to organization events and celebrations, and by formally acknowledging retirees on the occasion of their retirement. Retirees are offered the following work arrangements: temporary work assignments, consulting/contract work, and part-time work.
• Age of Workforce: Twenty-six percent of the hospital’s employees are 50+. Twenty-two percent of the hospital’s past twelve month new hires are 50+. The average tenure of employees age 50+ is 9.05 years.