VCU news

By Tom Gresham

The AARP has named Virginia Commonwealth University one of its 2005 “Best Employers for Workers Over 50” in the United States.

The AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons, announced Wednesday that VCU ranked No. 18 on its list of employers nationwide recognized for the fairness of their policies and practices toward older workers.

Employers were evaluated in several categories, including recruitment practices, continuing opportunities for advancement, flexible work schedules and benefits for current and retired employees.

William D. Novelli, CEO of the AARP, commended the university in a letter to VCU President Eugene P. Trani.

“Virginia Commonwealth University, along with other selected employers, has demonstrated exemplary practices with regard to recruitment, retention and promotion of older workers,” Novelli wrote.

“Moreover, you have created and fostered a workplace that is supportive of the aging workforce and encouraged workers to remain actively employed,” the letter said. “We proudly add Virginia Commonwealth University to this year’s list of honorees.”

Cindy Andrews, executive director of human resources for VCU, said mature workers make incalculable contributions to the university, providing stability and a connection to VCU’s past. Andrews called the workers “historians” for VCU.

Andrews said workers over the age of 50 account for 27 percent of the university’s approximately 9,000 employees.

“VCU continues to operate at the forefront of employers in its desire to embrace older members of the workforce,” Andrews said. “We understand the importance of workers over 50 to the university’s well-being, and we have worked hard to help them address the unique issues they encounter.

“We appreciate AARP’s recognition of the attention we have paid to this critical set of our employees,” she said.

Benefits for VCU employees feature several programs that particularly aid older workers. Among them are job share options, phased retirement for faculty, tuition waivers and flextime plans that allow for alternative work schedules.

VCU also offers a pool of donated leave time that employees can use to care for family members or themselves, extensive training programs that enable employees to expand their job capabilities and an innovative work/life program that helps employees find help when managing their personal and family responsibilities.

In concert with the release of the award winners, AARP disclosed highlights from five years of research into the contributions of mature workers. AARP says the various studies poke holes in conventional wisdom about older workers, countering claims that mature workers are unwilling to try new things, are less productive because of physical limitations and are less motivated due to burnout.

Tony Hylton, a spokesman for AARP Virginia, said VCU and other award winners have demonstrated an understanding of the worth of workers over 50.

“This year’s ‘Best Employers’ set high standards for practices toward older workers at a time when the value of these employees is often underestimated,” Hylton said. “It is in their self-interest, as well as enlightened policy, to emphasize retention and recruitment of the 50-plus worker as America’s workforce ages in the years ahead.”

In selecting this year’s award winners, AARP invited employers to submit an application describing their policies toward older workers. AARP received 145 applications and a consulting firm provided a preliminary rating of the applicants and a panel of nine expert judges then evaluated the applications. The judges’ rankings and consultant’s evaluations determined the 50 award winners.

AARP will host an awards dinner in Chicago on Sept. 22 to honor this year’s list of employers. In addition to VCU, Bon Secours Richmond Health System is listed among the award winners. Virginia has boasted eight award winners during the past five years – the most of any state.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole.