West Virginia University

Winning Years: 2011
Industry:  Education: Post-Secondary
Location:  Morgantown, West Virginia
Website:  www.wvu.edu

Forty-five percent of West Virginia University (WVU) employees are age 50+ with their average tenure being 19 years.  Due to employee requests for obtaining more information on retirement, the number of workshops offered per year on ‘Benefits of Your Benefits’ and ‘Retiring from WVU’ have been increased, a retirement page has been added to the human resources and benefits website containing up-to-date information regarding retirement benefits at WVU, and a Roth 403(b) retirement savings account was implemented.

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

Additional Policies and Practices:

Recruiting: WVU uses senior placement agencies to target mature workers and retirees.
 
Workplace Culture / Continued Opportunities: Employees working 20+ hours per week are offered learning and development programs such as tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, online training, and certification classes.  For a minimal fee, employees and retirees age 50+ can take classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at WVU Center on Aging (OLLI at WVU).  Classes at OLLI at WVU are taught by retired WVU faculty.  

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

Employees have opportunities to gain new experiences by working on team projects.  

The Office of Disability Services at WVU provides job accommodations and job redesigns for employees.  In addition, larger computer monitors, UV light filters, and parking accommodations are offered.
 
Benefits/Health: Employees working 20+ 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 pre-65 and 65+ include individual and spouse medical and drug coverage, individual and spouse dental and vision coverage, individual and spouse long-term care insurance, the services of an employee assistance program (EAP), as well as individual and spouse life insurance or other death benefit coverage.  

All of the above benefits are available to new hires upon retirement.  

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and health savings accounts (HSAs) are available to assist in covering out-of-pocket health care costs. 

Next: Financial benefits, phased retirement program. >>