Last month the organization for people over 50, AARP, released its annual list of best employers for workers over 50. Among the many private sector employers was one federal agency, the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
AARP cited the NIH Senior Leadership Program as a key to their selection to the list. The program provides older NIH employees the opportunity of working with a select group of peers and scholar-practitioners to improve leadership skills.
The AARP “Best Employers for Workers over 50” is an annual recognition program that awards companies and organizations whose best practices and policies for addressing the issues affecting the aging labor force. The program began in 2001 and this is the first year that the program has been open to public employers at the local, state, and federal levels.
AARP estimates that by 2016, one-third of the total US workforce will be age 50 or older. As the proportion of younger workers continues to decline, attracting and retaining experienced employees will become increasingly critical. This program is intended to recognize employers who are already implementing strategies to do so and use them as examples for others.
The selection process included a review of the employers’ workplace culture and availability of continued opportunities for older workers, health benefits, financial benefits, alternative work arrangements, opportunities for retirees, and the age of the workforce.
Workplace culture and opportunities
NIH offers a wide range of learning and development programs to full and part-time employees, including tuition reimbursement, classroom and online training, certification classes, and student-loan repayment programs. Employees develop Individual Development Plans that identify training courses, educational opportunities and other assignments, like job-shadowing or even job rotations, that would enhance their professional development and education.
Health benefits
As federal employees, NIH employees have access to the best individual and family medical coverage available, including vision and dental, long-term care, and disability insurance. Furthermore, retirees continue to receive all of the same benefits.
Financial and other benefits
Again, as federal employees, NIH employees are part of the federal retirement system and can participate in the Thrift Saving Plan. Pre-retirement classes are offered for employees within five years of retirement.
Full and part-time employees can participate in a wide range of wellness programs, including flu shots, smoking-cessation programs, exercise programs, and stress-management training. They can also join numerous activity clubs, such as photography, badminton, and sailing, and retirees are allowed to participate as well.
NIH has an Emergency Bank to assist employees affected by natural disasters and allows employees to take time off for caregiving. On-site care for children and grandchildren is available as are referral services to help employees find care for children, grandchildren, and eldercare.
Alternative work arrangements
NIH employees are offered flextime, compressed work schedules, job-sharing, telecommuting, and a formal phased-retirement program. This offers workers the option of a gradual retirement or a trial retirement, which would allow the employee to return to work within one year if he or she feels retirement was premature.
Opportunities for retirees
NIH retirees are formally acknowledged at retirement and are invited to organization events and celebrations. Temporary work assignments, consulting and contract work, and full- or part-time work are available to interested retirees.
Age of workforce
Forty-two percent of NIH’s employees are age 50+. The average tenure of employees age 50+ is 13.8 years.
OhMyGov! joins AARP in saluting the National Institutes for Health for being not only an employer of choice but a model for other federal agencies to follow.
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