5 industrial firms among best employers for workers over 50

The American Association of Retired People announced the results of its annual “AARP Best Employers for Workers over 50” survey today. Five organizations from the industrial sector were honored with the designation. The highest ranking organization from the industry sector is Deere & Company, which ranked fourth overall out of the 50 companies that made the list. There were four other organizations from the industrial sector that made the list: Michelin North America (No. 23), Pitney Bowes Inc. (No. 30), Whirlpool Corporation (No. 36) and Volkswagen of America (No. 39).

"These distinguished employers have exemplary practices at a time when the value of older employees is beginning to be broadly recognized as a key resource for corporations,” said AARP CEO Bill Novelli. "Many in the industrial sector and other fields recognize that it is in their self-interest, as well as enlightened policy, to emphasize retention and recruitment of the 50 plus worker.

“Too many employers still do not recognize the advantages that older workers bring to the table. The value of these employees will become increasingly apparent as the workforce ages in the years ahead.”

AARP also is releasing highlights of some of its research about mature workers – the top five advantages of mature workers and the top five stereotypes and realities about experienced workers. Additional charts show the states with the most AARP Best Employers for Workers over 50, and outline the top five criteria in selection of the Best Employers.

AARP’s new Bernard E. Nash Award for Innovation is being given to three AARP Best Employers with exemplary practices in recruitment, flexible work options and rehiring of retirees. They are: First Horizon National Corporation (flexible work options); Pepco Holdings Inc. (retiree work opportunities); and Carondelet Health Network (recruitment).

AARP invites employers to apply for the Best Employer designation by submitting an application describing their exemplary practices toward older workers. A consulting firm provides a preliminary ranking of the applicants, then a panel of nine outside judges evaluates the applications. The judges’ rankings, along with the consultant’s evaluations, lead to the final rankings.

Nearly one half of the honorees - including Stanley Consultants, Scripps Health, Bon Secours, Deere & Company, MIT, and First Horizon National Corporation - are previous winners in the annual AARP search.

This year, Michigan tops the 25 states with six winners, while Virginia has five, and Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, and West Virginia secured three awards each.

Speaking on the issue of continued employment of older workers, Alicia Munnell, director of Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research,  said: “As the population ages, employers will no longer be able to rely on a large influx of young workers. Hiring older workers seems like a natural solution – they will be better educated and healthier than in the past, they will have a lifetime of experience, and they will be well suited to a job market that has become much less physically demanding.”

The award winners will be honored at a dinner in Chicago on September 22. In conjunction with the event, AARP, in partnership with Mercer Human Resources Consulting and Financial Times, the exclusive media partner, will host a national conference the next day. “Business Solutions for an Aging Society” will focus on preparing American business for the changing workplace demographics and how to remain competitive in today’s global market through employer best practices. AARP The Magazine will focus on Best Employers in its November-December issue.

In November, AARP will release a major research report on the value of older workers – “The Business Case for Workers Age 50+” by Towers Perrin, a global professional services firm. 

AARP is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that helps people 50 and older have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. For more information, visit www.aarp.org.