Cornell University Tops 2008 List of Best Employers for Workers Over 50
By: State: New York | Source: aarp.org
Cornell University's students, faculty and alumni have long been known for being proud of the high academic standards of the Ivy League school located in Ithaca, New York. They now have another reason to be proud of the "Big Red". Cornell has landed on top of the list of the 2008 AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50, announced today by AARP CEO Bill Novelli.
Cornell joins a broad group of employers in the top 50 that includes Scripps Health of San Diego (#2), multi-national corporation S. C. Johnson and Son, Inc. (#3) of Racine, Wisconsin, and the first federal agency to make the list, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of Bethesda, MD, (#11).
Additionally, AARP The Magazine will feature the 2008 Best Employers in its November-December issue, in homes September 25, along with an extensive feature story on re-careering and discovering new passions at age 50+. The complete article and list can also be found online at www.aarpthemagazine.org.
"Cornell University has demonstrated progressive policies and programs for workers over 50, and has earned the honor of being the top employer in the nation for this age group," said AARP New York State Director Lois Aronstein.
Aronstein noted that in the face of rising health care costs, many Best Employers are adopting practices such as health screenings and other wellness programs that will pay off for both the employee and the employer.
Cornell University President David Skorton said: "This award confirms that Cornell University is coming ever closer to what we set out to achieve – to be an inclusive and caring community of staff, students and faculty who comprise an institution that imparts an uncommon sense of purpose to its every endeavor.
"We are honored to be recognized as a top employer for those Cornellians who work so hard to make this a special place to work, study, create and discover and who have had a career-long experience of meaningful employment," President Skorton added.
Cornell offers a variety of health-related programs through the year, including health screenings in office buildings on campus, and computerized and in-person health counseling for those enrolled in its Health Program for Healthy Living. The university also has established a special program called Opportunities for Healthy Aging. It provides older adults nine classes per week, with titles such as "Staying Strong," "Gentle Yoga," and "Core Conditioning." In addition, there are weight loss workshops and stress management programs.
The university's wellness program also provides access to five fitness centers on campus, an ice skating rink and several swimming pools, along with group fitness and nutrition classes.
Cornell's forward-thinking policies, in addition to its wellness programs, include flexible arrangements such as flextime, compressed work weeks and telecommuting; a formal phased retirement program for faculty; a robust retiree health and prescription drug plan heavily subsidized by the university; temporary work assignments for non-faculty retirees; paid time off for care giving, and access for retirees to continued university education at no charge.
Other employers which were acknowledged by AARP for their outstanding programs include: Scripps Health of San Diego, which finished second, and S. C. Johnson and Son, Inc. of Racine, Wisconsin, third. S. C. Johnson was first in 2007. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) became the first federal agency to receive the AARP honor since the program began in 2001. NIH finished eleventh.
The Best Employers winners, and the winners of a separate AARP International Innovative Employer Award, will be honored at a dinner on October 7 in Chicago. Go to aarp.org\bestemployers for information on the Best Employers and International Innovative Employee Awards. A CEO roundtable will also be held that day, focusing on AARP's new workforce assessment tool and the importance for employers of evaluating their workforce to determine future employee needs.
AARP invites employers to apply for the Best Employers honor by submitting an application outlining their exemplary policies and practices toward 50 and over workers.
Candidates are vetted to ensure that practices meet the needs of mature workers. Key areas of consideration include: recruiting practices, opportunities for training, education and career development; workplace accommodations; alternative work options, such as flexible scheduling, job sharing, and phased retirement; employee health and pension benefits; retiree work opportunities, and training and development.
A Capsule View of Cornell University
Cornell's total workforce: 11, 302
Percent over age 50: 43 percent (4,879)
Of these:
– 37 percent of hourly non-management staff are age 50 or over
– 45 percent of the management or supervisory employees are age 50 or over
– 85 percent of the executive staff are age 50 or over
Some Cornell University programs impacting 50+ workers:
– Extensive educational opportunities
Eldercare and child care resources
– Extensive wellness activities
– Telecommuting
– Formal phased retirement
– Temporary work assignments
– Flextime
– Child care grant subsidies
– Retiree health and prescription drug plans
One of the best-known units of this top employer for 50 and over workers is one of the world's leading colleges focused on work, employment and labor issues: Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Among the distinguished Cornell graduates:
– Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice
– Lee Teng-hui, President of Taiwan, 1988-2000
– Toni Morrison, author and winner of 1993 Nobel Prize for literature
– Wilson Greatbatch, inventor of the cardiac pacemaker
– Ed Marinaro, actor and former professional football player
Cornell is ranked 14th among 262 American "National Universities" in The latest U.S. News & World Report ratings of "America's Best Colleges."
Students, faculty, employees of Cornell are "Cornellians."
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