Mercy Health System

Winning Years: 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005  
Industry: Hospitals/Healthcare
Location: Janesville, Wisc.
Website: www.mercyhealthsystem.org

The Mercy Retiree Association offers retirees financial planning seminars and health screenings as well as other health-related programs, volunteer opportunities, social programming, mentoring opportunities and discounts on Mercy services. It is also a resource for recruitment.

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

Senior Connection is a Mercy Health System program for employees age 55 and over that provides Medicare and health claims assistance, free living will and durable power of attorney for health care documents, free and affordable senior activities, trips, as well as a free prescription discount program, notary service, one-on-one counseling and referral services for elder care options.  

In addition, employees with 10 or more years of service benefit from a special accelerated time off accrual system, licensure renewals are provided at no charge, and health insurance is offered at a discounted rate.        

Additional Policies and Practices:

Recruiting: E-cards and direct mail campaigns target mature workers and retirees.
 
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. Employees in leadership positions participate in special training sessions and institutes including the Mercy Leadership and Development Academy and the Mercy Institute for Leadership Excellence.  

The Mercy Leadership Mentor Program provides new leaders with a personal mentor for at least one year.  

Long-service anniversaries are celebrated with announcements, parties and awards.  

Regarding programs that offer expanded educational and health benefits to employees, Mercy has: developed the Advance Practice Program, which assists employees pursuing an advanced degree by offering ongoing support and a monetary scholarship; expanded the Mercy Economic Survival Guide and Program for employees and retirees by providing additional discounts and educational resources; expanded Web-based training and webinars; provided breakout sessions during the annual benefits fair to increase one-on-one support for employees; increased monetary donation to the Stay Healthy insurance benefit; enhanced the "Healthy You" program and website which offers employees ongoing health programming and online goal tracking; expanded pension and retirement planning sessions, introduced a health savings account and provided health risk assessments.  

Employees gain new experiences and develop new skills by working on team projects, by job shadowing, by working in temporary assignments in other departments and by participating in a formal job rotation program.  

Mercy's Occupational Therapy Department performs workstation ergonomic evaluations and provides modifications when needed.  
    
Benefits/Health: Employees working 20 or more hours per week receive individual and family medical and prescription drug coverage, individual and family dental insurance, individual and family long-term care insurance, as well as short-term disability. Long-term disability is offered to employees working 36 or more hours per week.  

Health benefits for retirees pre-65 and 65 and over include individual and spouse medical and drug coverage, individual and spouse dental insurance, individual and spouse long-term care insurance, and the services of an employee assistance program (EAP). All of the above health benefits for retirees age 65 and over are available to new hires upon retirement.  

Individual and spouse life insurance or other death benefit coverage are also offered to retirees age 65 and over. Flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and health savings accounts (HSAs) are available to assist in covering out-of-pocket health care costs.

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