FINALISTS CHOSEN FOR AGE SMART EMPLOYER AWARDS
Eleven New York City businesses and nonprofits recognized for successful strategies to hire, keep and engage a multi-generational workforce are in running for award
New York (October 23, 2015) The Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center today announced finalists for the 2015 Age Smart Employer Awards. The award, in its second year, recognizes New York City businesses and nonprofit organizations who use policies and practices that help to hire, retain, and engage four generations of workers. The 11 finalists named today are based in the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens and include:
Large Businesses (100+ employees)
- Amy’s Breads www.amysbread.com —a bread and pastry bakery, featuring three retail cafes and distribution to over 250 wholesale customers daily throughout New York City
- Brooks Brothers www.brooksbrothers.com, LIC Factory—the facility that manufactures the neckties and bowties—1.5 million ties a year—for this world-renown oldest clothing retailer in the U.S.
- CBRE www.cbre.com—the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment company
- North Bronx Healthcare Network www.facebook.com/
NorthBroCBREnxHealthcareNetwork—se rves the Bronx Community by providing high-quality healthcare, regardless of ability to pay, through the Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital - NYU Langone Medical Center www.med.nyu.edu —one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, with a trifold mission to serve, teach and discover
- Sunnyside Community Services www.scsny.org—a community-based organization in western Queens that provides a continuum of care to over 14,000 individuals of all ages annually
Small Businesses (less than 100 employees)
- Ben’s Best Kosher Delicatessen bensbest.com—a restaurant and catering business in Rego Park, Queens
- Eneslow Pedorthic Enterprises eneslow.coma footwear store specializing in readymade and custom-made footwear and related products to reduce foot pain and improve balance and gait
- Indiana Market & Catering www.indiananyc.com—a high–end special events catering company
- Metro Optics Eyewear eyewear-bronx.com—an ophthalmic services company with four stores in The Bronx
- VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired www.visionsvcb.org/visions—
promotes independence of people of all ages who are blind through skill training, congregate programs and support for caregivers
“Workers of all ages are good for business and these finalists are proof positive that creating a work environment that values older workers pays off big time,” says Ruth Finkelstein, director of the Age Smart Employer Awards program and Associate Director of the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center at the Mailman School of Public Health. “What this diverse set of employers have in common is a focus on creating a great place to work—for workers of all ages. They do this in different ways—through flexible work arrangements, training and cross-training, staff development and promotion from within or great benefits. ”
The 11 finalists were chosen from an original group of 52 applicants by a Selection Committee of nine experts in the field of employment and aging. The applicants submitted extensive applications addressing their respective approaches to engaging older workers. Each finalist is now participating in an employees’ survey about those practices. The Selection Committee will evaluate the employee surveys and after further deliberation will identify 3-4 winning organizations in the large and small business/nonprofit categories. The ultimate winners of the 2015 Age Employer Awards will be announced at a ceremony on December 9, 2015.
The finalists highlighted in their applications some of the Age Smart practices they are using to recruit, retain and engage older worker, including:
- Restructuring work assignments and productivity requirements to take best advantage of skills
- Flexibility in work arrangements, such as tailored working hours and telecommuting
- Focus on training opportunities for workers of all ages, including cross-training
- Formal and informal mentoring
- Targeted recruitment for mature job candidates
- Commitment to career development and promotion from within the workplace
For more information, please visit Age Smart Employer Awardswww.agesmartemployer.org.
Age Smart Employer is an initiative of the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center and the New York Academy of Medicine. It receives funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
