AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50 Program

The AARP "Best Employers for Workers Over 50" is an annual recognition program that awards companies and organizations whose best practices and policies for addressing the issues affecting our aging labor force create roadmaps for the workplaces of tomorrow.
 
Having just finished its ninth year, the program launched in 2001 with the name "AARP Best Companies for Workers Over 50." In 2002, the name changed to AARP’s "Best Employers for Workers Over 50" to reflect AARP's interest in encouraging applications from a variety of employers from the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Moreover, in order to recognize the important role that government employers play in the U.S. workforce, AARP also opened the program to public employers at the local, state, and federal levels. AARP recognizes that a growing number of U.S. employers are developing progressive policies and practices that are meeting the needs of the country's aging workforce. AARP seeks to share employers' best practices with the business community at large and to promote employment opportunities for older workers.
 
Why Did AARP Launch the Program?
 
By 2016, one-third of the total U.S. workforce (or 33.5 percent) will be age 50 or older, up from 28 percent in 2007. As the proportion of younger workers continues to decline, attracting and retaining mature, experienced employees is becoming increasingly crucial for employers who seek to retain their competitive edge in today's marketplace.

Benefits of Applying to the AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50 Program

All employers who apply to the AARP "Best Employers for Workers Over 50" program, including the honorees and those who do not receive the award, get valuable workforce-management information and feedback about their applications. Employers who are selected to be AARP "Best Employers" receive other benefits, including national and local media recognition. Honorees also have opportunities to publicly showcase their innovative employment practices. Winners can use the AARP "Best Employers" logo in recruiting efforts.
 
Benefits for All Applicants

Everyone who applies for this program receives the following:
 
Feedback Comparing Your Organization to Other Applicants. Even if your company or organization is not selected to be one of the AARP "Best Employers for Workers Over 50," you will receive feedback about your application. This information can help you address the needs of mature workers. You will learn how your organization's scores compare with the scores of all applicants and with other applicants in your industry.
 
Relevant Research and Management Tools. AARP will send you research-based management tools to help you build and retain a competitive edge in today's labor market.

Benefits for Honorees

In addition to the feedback report and management tools that all applicants receive, being named an AARP "Best Employer for Workers Over 50" is a great honor and gives your company or organization the following benefits:

• National Recognition in the Marketplace. As one of AARP's "Best Employers for Workers Over 50" honorees, you will be recognized by AARP in the nation’s leading media outlets. In the past, the list of outlets has included key business publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Fortune, and HR Magazine.
• Local Recognition in Your Community. Also as an "AARP Best Employer for Workers Over 50" award-winner, you can tout your accomplishments on local media. The local AARP office in your state will work with you to announce your designation to our members and to other audiences.
• Access to over 40 Million AARP Members. The AARP "Best Employers for Workers Over 50" are featured in AARP The Magazine, the organization’s premier magazine. It reaches 40 million members. AARP members will also read your story and accomplishments in other AARP publications and venues, such as AARP Bulletin Today, Segunda Juventud (AARP's bilingual Spanish–English magazine), and AARP.org (our Web site).

 
Use of the AARP 'Best Employer' Logo in Your Recruitment Efforts
 
An employer with good policies and practices for an older workforce has undoubtedly fostered a good workplace for just about any employee. Honorees can use the AARP "Best Employers for Workers Over 50" logo in their recruitment efforts to demonstrate their commitment to valuing an age-diverse workforce. The AARP "Best Employers" logo can only be used in personnel efforts and cannot be used to help promote the winning company's products or services.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Any U.S.-based employer with at least 50 employees is eligible to apply to the AARP "Best Employers for Workers Over 50" program. This includes for-profit companies, not-for-profit organizations, and government employers.

When Will We Have Another Opportunity to Apply?

The AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50 list is now published biennially. The next list of AARP Best Employers will be released in 2011 for the program's 10-year anniversary. The application for the 2011 list will be available on our Web site beginning in the fall of 2010. If you are an employer and would like to be notified when the application is available for the 2011 list of AARP Best Employers, please fill out this form.