Lee County Electric Cooperative

This employer set up pilot programs on more flexible work schedules

from: AARP, September 2011

Winning Years: 2011, 2009, 2004
Industry: Utilities
Location: Fort Myers, Fla.
Website: www.lcec.net

Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) employees with 30 or more years of experience participate in cross-functional task forces throughout the organization. These task forces provide mentoring opportunities for mature workers. The average tenure of employees age 50 and over is a notable 17.1 years and 51 percent of LCEC employees are age 50 and over.

About Best Employers

Additional Policies and Practices:

Workplace Culture / Continued Opportunities: Full-time employees working 40 hours per week are eligible for tuition reimbursement and certification classes, while those working 20 or more hours per week can participate in online training and in-house classroom training. Supervisors are also offered monthly leadership training.

Service anniversaries are celebrated with gifts, announcements, parties and awards.

Feedback from employee focus teams prompted LCEC to provide better education on employee benefits and compensation — and better communication on the company's human resources policies — by implementing monthly supervisor meetings. LCEC also provides leadership training to address key issues that can enhance both leadership and employee engagement. In addition, LCEC has conducted pilot programs on more flexible, alternative work schedules.

Employees have opportunities to gain new experiences by working on temporary assignments in other departments and on team projects, and they also have access to formal job rotation programs. Employees also have the opportunity to cross-train and enter into apprentice programs and leadership rotations.

Benefits/Health: Full-time employees working 40 hours per week receive individual and family medical coverage, prescription drug coverage, vision and dental insurance, life insurance and long-term disability.

Health benefits for retirees include individual and spouse medical and prescription drug coverage, as well as individual and spouse vision coverage.

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) are available to assist in covering out-of-pocket health care costs and the HSA also serves to provide a source to cover medical and premium costs after the employee has retired.