George Mason University: AARP Best Employers 2008

By: AARP.org | Source: AARP.org | September 2008

Winning years: 2008, 2007
Industry: Education - Other
Location: Fairfax, Va.
URL: www.gmu.edu
2008 Rank: 31

Highlights of 2008 Winning Strategies

George Mason University employees age 50+ take advantage of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, which provides opportunities for mature adults to explore intellectual and cultural subjects and to share experiences and talents. In addition, many issues are discussed in the Eldercare Seminar Series.

The university also offers pre-retirement seminars and retirement-investment education. Individual retirement counseling begins at least 90 days prior to an employee’s retirement.

Thirty-six percent of George Mason employees are age 50+.

Additional Policies and Practices:

Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: George Mason offers full- and part-time employees the following learning and development programs: tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, online training, and certification classes. During the past 12 months, 47 percent of George Mason employees participated in at least one of its training opportunities, with an average of four hours spent in training.

The university celebrates long-service anniversaries with announcements, parties, and awards. People with 25+ years of service receive gifts. Based on employee feedback, George Mason added an eldercare services department and annual financial education workshops for mature workers.

Employees have opportunities to gain new experiences by working on team projects and during the Build Your Technology and Teaching Expertise Week, held several times a year. The BYTE program offers faculty and staff a free week of technology skills training.

George Mason accommodates ill and recovering employees by offering job reassignments until they can resume their normal duties.
 
Benefits/Health: Full- and part-time employees working at least 20 hours per 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  under 65 and for workers 65 and older include individual and spousal medical and drug coverage, individual and spousal vision and dental coverage, individual and spousal long-term care insurance, employee-assistance services, and individual and spousal life insurance or other death-benefit coverage. New hires are eligible for all of the benefits upon retirement.

George Mason also offers employees flexible-spending accounts and a high-deducible health plan to help employees cover out-of-pocket health care costs.

Benefits/Financial: George Mason offers a 401(k) with an employer match, a defined-benefit plan, and a money-purchase defined-contribution plan to its full- and part-time employees. All new hires are automatically enrolled in the 401(k) plan, employees may invest in lifecycle funds, and employees 50+ can make catch-up contributions. Employees receive financial-planning information from the staff that administers the 401(k), from external financial planning experts not affiliated with the 401(k), and from monthly seminars held at George Mason.

The university offers paid time off specifically designated for caregiving, short-term time off without pay, and long-term leaves of absence without pay to allow for caregiving.

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 and exercise programs, weight loss programs, and stress-management training. Thirty percent of the university’s employees have used at least one of its wellness benefits during the past 12 months.

George Mason holds an annual Faculty–Staff Enrichment Day that includes seminars, a vendor fair, and lunch for employees. Full- and part-time employees can receive the following dependent-care benefits: on-site care for children and grandchildren, referral services to assist with child-care and eldercare, and backup care for children and grandchildren and for elders. George Mason has two active support groups, one for working mothers and one for eldercare.

Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: George Mason offers the following alternative work arrangements to its full- and part-time employees: flextime, compressed work schedules, job sharing, and telecommuting. Full-time employees are eligible to move to part-time work on a permanent or temporary basis. 

Opportunities for Retirees: George Mason currently has 506 retirees and an employee directly responsible for retiree relations. The university stays connected with retirees by communicating regularly, by inviting retirees to organization events and  celebrations, by providing ongoing access to retirement planning workshops and information, and by formally acknowledging retirees when they retire.

Immediately following retirement, every retiree receives a retirement package containing items such as complimentary tickets to a Center for the Arts performance and to a George Mason basketball game, an annual parking decal, and a card for complimentary visits to the Freedom Aquatic Center and the Aquatic and Fitness Center. George Mason offers retirees temporary work assignments, consulting and contract work, and full- and part-time work.

Age of Workforce: Thirty-six percent of George Mason employees are 50+. The average tenure of employees age 50+ is 10.4 years.