AARP Honors VCU for Policies for Workers Over 50

By Tom Gresham

Virginia Commonwealth University has been recognized again as one of the top employers for older workers in the United States, ranking among the AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50 for the fourth consecutive year.

The AARP announced today that VCU ranked No. 24 on its list of the top 50 employers nationwide for its policies and practices toward older workers. VCU was judged on a variety of criteria, including recruiting practices; opportunities for training, education and career development; alternative work options, such as flexible scheduling, job sharing and phased retirement; employee health and pension benefits; retiree work opportunities and training and development.

"It's no accident that Virginia Commonwealth University today was again honored for its commitment to older workers," said VCU President Eugene P. Trani. "We value our employees at every stage of their lives and work hard to ensure they find the best work-life balance to meet their needs whether at the beginning, middle or end of their careers."

VCU’s initiatives include a specialized retirement education series that helps employees develop their financial goals and address their financial concerns, a partnership with VCU’s Department of Gerontology and Geriatric Services to establish a program assisting older workers and employee caregivers at VCU and an eldercare support group that meets monthly to help with eldercare decisions and offer resources.

In addition, VCU employees are eligible for an on-site adult daycare program for employee dependents and all retirees are contacted shortly following their retirement to solicit their interest in VCU’s retiree roster, which is used to fill temporary, short-term vacancies.

Cindy Andrews, executive director of human resources for VCU, said older workers play an integral role at VCU, providing experience, institutional knowledge and character, among many other assets.

“It is extremely important to us that we create a work environment that allows employees over the age of 50 to thrive at VCU,” Andrews said. “VCU offers the kind of flexibility and resources that benefit all workers but that can be especially important to our older employees.”

The Best Employers winners, and the winners of a separate AARP International Innovative Employer Award, will be honored at a dinner on Oct. 7 in Chicago.

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.