SC Johnson & Son, Inc.: 2009 AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50

By: AARP.org | Source: AARP.org | September 2009

Winning years: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
Industry: Industrial
Location: Racine, Wis.
URL: www.scjohnson.com

Highlights of 2009 Winning Strategies

This year marks S.C. Johnson & Son's fourth on AARP's annual list of Best Employers for Workers Over 50. S.C. Johnson offers workers and retirees the same benefits and programs, which include a defined pension benefit plan and the S.C. Johnson JMBA Recreation and Fitness Center. This center offers health, wellness, and fitness programs and activities specifically or exclusively to retirees. The company actively maintains contact with retirees by communicating about events, celebrations, workshops, and temporary assignments. S.C. Johnson also formally recognizes retirees and employees for their contributions to the community.
 
Workplace Culture and Continued Opportunities: To its full- and part-time employees who work 20 hours per week or more, S.C. Johnson offers the following learning and development programs: tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, online training, and certification classes. In the past 12 months, all S.C. Johnson employees took part in at least one of the company's learning opportunities, with an average of 40 hours per employee spent in training.

The Johnson Learning Institute provides professional development and job-training courses to employees, and its LINK program partnership allows employees to take classes on their own time for professional development, skill development, or degree credit.

The company recognizes employees through annual outings, cash awards, thank-yous, and public recognition from senior management. Employees and retirees who have made significant contributions to their communities are eligible to receive the H.F. Johnson Community Service award.
The company commemorates long-service anniversaries with announcements, parties, and awards. Employees with 20+ years of service become part of the 20 Year Club, which has more than 2,500 members. S.C. Johnson offers employees the opportunity to take temporary assignments in other departments, to work on team projects, and to participate in a formal job-rotation program. S.C. Johnson has made accommodations to help physically disabled employees—including business travel arrangements, suitable equipment or devices, and leave—so they feel comfortable and able to do their jobs.
 
Benefits/Health: Full- and part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week are eligible to receive individual and family medical, prescription-drug, vision, dental, long-term-care, and short- and long-term-disability coverage.

Retirees under and above age 65 receive similar benefits: individual and family medical, prescription-drug, vision, dental, long-term-care, and life insurance. To help cover out-of-pocket health expenses, S.C. Johnson offers employees the opportunity to set up their own health savings accounts and health flexible spending accounts. Other retiree health benefits with no out-of-pocket cost to the retiree include: Johnson Mutual Benefits Association and Wellness Center, health-risk assessments and coaching, retiree-paid long-term-care group rates, a disease-management program, a patient advocacy line, a 24-hour Mayo nurse health line, and the Mayo health Web site.

Benefits/Financial: SC Johnson offers a 401(k) plan with employer match, money-purchase defined contribution plan cash balance or other hybrid, and stock options to all full- and part-time employees who work 20 hours or more per week. All new hires are automatically enrolled into the contribution plan, and employees ages 50+ are able to make “catch-up” contributions. The company also offers 401(k) participants, working and retired, investment advice through an external provider not affiliated with the plan. Web-based financial education and planning are also available through the company for all employees as well as a toll-free number and individual consultants through the Johnson Bank satellite banks.

SC Johnson allows paid time off for caregiving, in addition to taking unpaid short- or long-term leave for caregiving. The company will reimburse employees up to $50 per night to cover costs associated with child- or eldercare when on business travel. The company also has a special sick care program that will pay 75 percent of the cost of dependent care at a hospital. SC Johnson offers wellness-related benefits to all full- and part-time employees that include flu shots, health screenings, health risk appraisals, smoking cessation programs, fitness facility and exercise program discounts, weight loss programs, and stress management programs.

Over the past 12 months, 80 percent of all employees have utilized at least one of these wellness benefits. SC Johnson has a recreation and fitness center that is accessible to all employees and retirees and their families which includes an aquatic center, basketball and racquetball courts, craft rooms, and children’s facilities. The center provides fitness programs, hosts events, and offers wellness information. SC Johnson has a physician on staff that is accessible to both employees and retirees for medical care, counsel, and emergencies. Full- and part-time employees have access to on-site child/grandchild care, referral services to help with child/grandchild or eldercare, and backup care for children/grandchildren or elderly family members.

Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: SC Johnson offers its full- and part-time employees the following alternative work arrangements: flex time, compressed work schedules, job sharing, and telecommuting. Full-time employees have the opportunity to move to part-time work on a permanent or temporary basis.

Age of Workforce: Thirty-six percent of S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. employees are ages 50+, with an average tenure of 23 years.