West Virginia University is one of the nation’s top 10 “Best Employers for Workers Over 50” for the second straight time in AARP’s biennial rankings. The University was ranked seventh overall.
“The continuing recognition by AARP demonstrates that our commitment to our employees is a core way of doing business and not a fleeting attitude,” Vice President for Human Resources Margaret Phillips said. “It reflects the efforts that have been made to create a work environment that values all people.”
AARP announced the award Monday in Chicago.
“West Virginia University retirees receive discounts to WVU athletic and cultural events, WVU libraries, transportation services and the WVU Recreation Center,” AARP said in recognizing the University’s “winning strategies.”
“Mature employees benefit from the ‘Take Charge of Your Health’ program, which is an eight-week program with weekly assignments. By the end of the eight-week period, employees will have compiled a personal health manual with information on health contacts, health numbers, medications, family medical trees, medical visits and medical reports.”
The organization also highlighted the University’s recruiting of mature workers and retirees, financial and health benefits, alternative work arrangements and other opportunities. The full report is available online at www.aarp.org/bestemployers.
Click here to read about other West Virginia employers on the list.
Phillips noted that the elements that contributed to the initial recognition award in 2011 are still in place and improved.
“Whether it be our benefits programs, our retirement planning seminars, our wellness initiatives, veterans programs or any other of the myriad programs we have in place for employees, we are always striving to make WVU an attractive place to work,” she said. “This is a must-do if the University is to continue to prosper and be the kind of institution that West Virginians expect us to be.
“This recognition will help us continue to attract experienced employees to keep WVU at a high level,” she said.
The AARP program “recognizes that a growing number of U.S. and international employers are developing progressive policies and practices that are meeting the needs of an aging global workforce.”
Forty-four percent of WVU’s employees are over age 50 and those employees have an average tenure of 19 years.
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jb/06/17/13
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