Employers Seek Boomer-Friendly Status

These days, more elderly employees are not interested in retiring at 50 or even 60. Because of this, more and more companies are making strategic decisions to support the elderly employers by providing flexible work schedules, telecommuting options and other benefits to keep and attract potential employees aged 50 and above.

Companies are even posting jobs on their sites (as well as others) to exclusively accommodate senior employees. Others apply to make the AARP's annual list of 50 Best Employers for Workers over 50.

What Boomers Want

Civic Ventures, Princeton Survey Research Associates and MetLife Foundation conducted a survey involving 1,000 Americans aged 50-70 what type of work and work environment they want. About half of the participants said they are interested in jobs to help improve the quality of life in their communities. They also want jobs that connect them to their life's passion.

Monique Dearth, President of Incite Strategies, concurs that a lot of employees aged 50 and up have different priorities on the job. Dearth say "they are experienced employees who generally aren't looking to develop a high profile career but rather want to leverage their past experience, feel valued in the organization, and contribute at a meaningful level."

No Shortcuts

Roberta Chinsky Matuson, principal with Human Resource Solutions based in Massachusetts warned that lists such as the AARP's are only one kind of resource that elderly job hunters should consult. According to Matuson "Job seekers should keep in mind that many organizations have large public-relations departments that help their companies make it onto these lists," she said. "There are many great companies that never even apply."

Matuson further adds that elderly hopefuls should do some research on companies and ask previous colleagues and friends in their network to know if a potential employer is supportive of older workers.

She added that baby-boomer candidates should do their own research on companies and consult with friends and others in their network to get a sense if an employer is supportive of mature workers.

AARP'S Top Pick

Some of AARP's top picks from a few years ago when it comes to which companies are most supportive of older workers include: include Mercy Health System of Janesville, Wis.; Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn.; Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. in Nutley, N.J.; Volkswagen of America Inc. in Auburn Hills, Mich.; John Deere of Moline, Ill.; and Principal Financial Group of Des Moines, Iowa. (You can find the complete list at AARP.org.)

In particular, Mercy Health, a not-for-profit organization topped the list because they offer the most accommodating and flexible work options. These include: weekend-only work, nursing "float" options (work at different facilities or departments), work-at-home opportunities, "seasonal work" programs, and on-call assignments that involve a limited number of hours per month that can be expanded or contracted based on an employee's availability.

AARP also favored health care and education in their list.

Rather want to leverage their past experience, feel valued in the organization, and contribute at a meaningful level."SDO

AARP's top pick for the 50 Best Employers for Workers over 50.

According to Stefanie Weiss, spokeswoman for Civic Ventures, "Many leaders in health care are looking to experienced employees to help them deal with a massive labor shortage that threatens the quality of the most basic services they provide."We hope that leaders in education, government, and the nonprofit sector -- to name a few fields facing similarly dire labor shortages -- follow health care's lead, and soon" adds Weiss.