University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Winning Years: 2011, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005
Industry: Hospitals/Healthcare
Location: Houston
Website: www.mdanderson.org

MD Anderson is the first health care system in the nation to be accredited with the CEO Cancer Gold Standard. To be accredited, organizations must take specific actions to reduce cancer risk in the workplace by reducing tobacco use, promoting a healthful diet and nutrition, encouraging physical activity, offering cancer prevention, screening and early detection, and providing access to quality treatment and clinical trials.

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

The Gold Standard wellness strategy led to the building of their 19,000 sq. ft. fitness center, which is offered free to all employees.

Retirees stay connected through the MD Anderson Retiree Association.

Additional Policies and Practices:

Recruiting: Senior placement agencies are utilized to target mature workers and retirees. MD Anderson was awarded the Age Friendly Employer Certification Program with Retirement Jobs.com.
 
Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: Employees working 20 or more hours per week are offered tuition reimbursement and certification classes while all employees are offered in-house classroom training and online training. MD Anderson offers specific courses that are targeted to employees over the age of 50 including Spirituality in Healthcare, Aging Well: The Secrets to Successful Aging and Healthy Living, and Get Ready, Get Set, Pre-Retirement Planning.

Long-service anniversaries are celebrated with announcements, parties, awards and gifts for those with 10 or more years of service.

Because of feedback from a recent employee opinion survey, MD Anderson implemented an institution wide mentoring program.

Employees have opportunities to gain new experiences by working on temporary assignments in other departments and by participating in a formal job rotation program.

MD Anderson provides special audio equipment to employees with hearing impairment and makes job modifications to accommodate physical limitations.
 
Benefits/Health: Employees working 20 or more hours per week receive individual and family medical and prescription drug coverage, individual and family vision and dental insurance, individual and family long-term care insurance, as well as short- and long-term disability.

Health benefits for retirees include individual and spouse medical and drug coverage, individual and spouse dental and vision coverage, individual and spouse long term care insurance, employee assistance program (EAP) services, as well as individual and spouse life insurance or other death benefit coverage.

All of the above benefits are available to new hires.

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are available to assist in covering out-of-pocket health care costs and part-time employees are provided a supplement to assist with the cost sharing health care premium. Retiree medical and prescription premiums are free to the retiree.

Next: Financial benefits and alternative work arrangements. >>