AARP Praises 10 Employers’ Policies

The AARP has honored 10 U.S. employers for their efforts to court and keep older workers on staff, part of a project to identify some of the nation’s best policies toward people age 50 and older.

“All employers can benefit by recruiting and retaining qualified, skilled older workers,” said Bill Novelli, chief executive of the advocacy group for people over 50.

The citations come at a time when turning 65 is not necessarily synonymous with retirement. Last year, nearly 13% of men and women over 65 were in the work force, compared with nearly 11% in 1985, according to AARP.

The companies were ABN Amro North America in Chicago; Avis Rent a Car System; Baptist Health Systems of South Florida; Foley’s Department Stores of Houston; Giant Eagle Inc., a Pittsburgh-based grocery chain; Hyatt Hotels of Chicago; MITRE Corp., a nonprofit information technology company in Bedford, Mass.; Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Ore.; Prudential Insurance Co. of Newark, N.J.; and Restart Temps of Camp Hill, Pa.