Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Winning Years: 2011, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2003
Industry: Education: Secondary
Location: Cambridge, Mass.
Website: www.mit.edu

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) World of Work website helps employees develop their careers at MIT by describing other jobs at MIT the employee might want to consider, explores the basic skills needed for different job groups, and facilitates in finding potential opportunities for career growth in different parts of MIT.

See also: How the 2011 Best Employers winners were selected.

In addition, MIT promotes cross-functional project teams in many academic and administrative functions, providing an avenue for mature workers to gain new experiences and expand their network. Nearly forty percent of MIT employees are age 50 and over.
    
Additional Policies and Practices:

Recruiting: MIT works with Operation A.B.L.E. (Ability Based on Long Experience) of Greater Boston, which provides training and employment services to mature workers.
 
Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: Full- and part-time employees are offered learning and development programs including in-house classroom training, online training and certification classes. In addition, tuition reimbursement is offered to employees working 17 or more hours per week.

MIT's course Managing Across Generations helps managers gain a clear understanding of benefits and challenges that different generations bring to the workforce and how they can cultivate an environment where mixed generations work together effectively.

Employees with 25 or more years of service become members of the Quarter Century Club and receive a watch or a chair in recognition of their service.

MIT initiated a contract with Workplace Options to provide a 24 hours, 7 days a week, phone and Web consultation service that includes extensive services and information on aging and elder care including referrals on elder housing, retirement planning and volunteering, as well as a planning center for elder caregivers.

Employees have opportunities to gain new experiences by working on temporary assignments in other departments and on team projects.

MIT purchases assisted listening devices compatible with an instructor's hearing aid so students can be heard from any area of the classroom.

Flexible scheduling options are also offered to accommodate employees' unique needs.
 
Benefits/Health: Employees working 17 or more hours per week receive medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage for them and their eligible dependents. Spousal equivalents or domestic partners are considered eligible dependents. Employees can choose individual, employee plus spouse/domestic partner, employee plus children and family coverage. Long-term care insurance, short- and long-term disability are also offered.  

Health benefits for retirees' pre-65 include medical, dental and prescription drug coverage for retirees and their eligible dependents. They can continue their long-term care and life insurance. Health benefits for retirees 65 and over include medical, dental and prescription drug coverage for retirees and their eligible dependents. They can continue their long-term care and life insurance.

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