These employers offer seniors jobs, not pink slips

Oct 18th, 2005 | By Bill | Category: Employment News



These employers offer seniors jobs, not pink slips

Last week, nearly 30 tour volunteers at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library were “relieved of their duties.” All 30 were, as one volunteer put it, “in our 70s, or have gray hair, or in some of our cases, both.”

Library officials deny age had anything to do with the firings, saying the decision to let the volunteers go was based on the “physical and intellectual” duties of the job following the doubling in size of the campus.

The volunteers were quick to point out that many of them are actually younger than Ronald Reagan’s 77 when he left presidential office.

Surely, one cannot assume that an employee (or volunteer) is unsuitable for a job simply because of age. And as I mentioned in a recent column, more than half (55 percent) of older employees surveyed by The Conference Board for a forthcoming study said they are not planning to retire because they find their jobs interesting.

I requested in that column that senior-friendly employers in the South Bay identify themselves. Here are a few that did.

The Aerospace Corp. in El Segundo informed me that it has just been selected as one of AARP’s Best Employers for Workers Over 50. Aerospace earned this distinction in 2002 and 2003 as well.

“The Aerospace Corporation, along with other selected employers, has demonstrated exemplary practices with regard to recruitment, retention and promotions of older workers,” AARP CEO William D. Novelli stated in a letter notifying the company of its selection. “Moreover, you have created and fostered a workplace that is supportive of the aging work force and encouraged workers to remain actively employed,” he added.

Nearly one-half of The Aerospace Corp.’s 3,500 regular, full-time workers are older than 50. Among the benefits older employees enjoy are a phased retirement program, alternative work arrangements, such as flextime and telecommuting, and special arrangements for employees who want to continue working after they retire.

It should be noted that some 90 percent of workers older than 50 developed their careers at the company. But officials say the company does hire workers over 50 when they have the skills the company requires.

“We hire employees at all ages and look for the best candidate for the position, whether they are 18 or 89 years old,” says a representative for the company.

Primerica Financial Services, part of Citigroup, told me they have much to offer mature workers. The stated company purpose is “Help People Get Out of Debt and Become Financially Independent.” That applies to clients and employees

Also, REMS Inc., a third-generation family-owned property management company told me they’re expanding and need employees who have experience in marketing, CRMs and property management. “We’ve designed an employee-friendly work environment — age is not a barrier to opportunity,” they said.

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