Six Illinois Companies Make AARP’s 2007 Top 50 Best Employers List

Some of the best places to work for people over the age of 50 are right here in Illinois. With the release of AARP’s 2007 50 Best Employers for Workers Over 50 List today, six Illinois based companies are being recognized for their outstanding policies and practices relating to 50 plus workers. More Illinois companies were named to the list than any other state.

“Employers that take a world class approach in their policies toward 50 and over workers understand that the result is more productive employees,” said Bob Gallo, State Director for AARP Illinois.

Illinois-based companies named to AARP’s Best Employers for Workers Over 50 include: Argonne National Laboratory of Argonne, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association of Chicago (also winner of 2007 Bernard E. Nash Innovation Award), Centegra Health System of Crystal Lake, John Deere of Moline, Rush-Copley Medical Center of Aurora and Centers for New Horizons of Chicago. Each gained honors in what is the seventh year of AARP’s annual Best Employers search.

“Focusing on the employee’s personal needs pays dividends,” added Gallo. “It is important that more employers — both large and small — recognize what tremendous assets 50 and over employees represent because of the skill and experience they bring to the workplace.”

The Best Employers winners will be honored at a dinner in New York, NY on September 26, 2007. A CEO roundtable discussion focusing on a new AARP study examining best practices for meeting the needs of 50+ workers among international and multinational corporations representing G7 countries will take place earlier that day. An international conference — titled “Profit From Experience” — will follow on September 27, 2007, also in New York, NY.

AARP invites employers to apply for the Best Employers honor by submitting an application outlining their exemplary policies and practices toward 50 and over workers. Candidates undergo extensive vetting prior to final selections. Key areas of consideration include: recruiting practices; opportunities for training, education and career development; workplace accommodations; alternative work options, such as flexible scheduling, job sharing, and phased retirement; employee health and pension benefits; retiree benefits; and age diversity of the workforce.

In addition to the Best Employers selections, AARP announced today the winners of its annual Bernard E. Nash Awards for Innovation. The award is in honor of Nash, a former CEO of AARP and current Illinois resident. These honorees are spotlighted for their achievement in at least one of these areas: flexible work options, recruitment, retiree work opportunities, and training and development.

The 2007 Innovation winners are: training and development opportunities, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association of Chicago, IL flexible work options, Mercy Health System of Janesville, WI; and retiree work opportunities, Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation of Huntsville, Alabama.

2007 AARP Best Employers Winners

Rank, Name

City, State

1. SC Johnson

Racine, WI

2. Mercy Health System

Janesville, WI

3. First Horizon National Corporation

Memphis, TN

4. Scripps Health

San Diego, CA

5. Stanley Consultants

Muscatine, IA

6. Lee Memorial Health System

Fort Myers, FL

7. Leesburg Regional Medical Center &

The Villages Regional Hospital

Leesburg, FL

8. George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

9. Principal Financial Group

Des Moines, IA

10. Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, MA

11. MidMichigan Health

Midland, MI

12. Bon Secours Richmond Health System

Richmond, VA

13. The YMCA of Greater Rochester

Rochester, NY

14. Brevard Public Schools

Viera, FL

15. Atlantic Health

Morristown, NJ

16. ACUITY

Sheboygan, WI

17. Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Auburn Hills, MI

18. Saint Vincent Health System

Erie, PA

19. Trinitas Hospital

Elizabeth, NJ

20. Securian

St. Paul, MN

21. Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne, IL

22. Pinnacle Health System

Harrisburg, PA

23. The Aerospace Corporation

El Segundo, CA

24. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

25. Pinnacol Assurance

Denver, CO

26. Jennings Center for Older Adults

Garfield Heights, OH

27. John Deere

Moline, IL

28. Bon Secours St. Francis Health System

Greenville, SC

29. Centegra Health System

Crystal Lake, IL

30. Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA

31. Durham Regional Hospital

Durham, NC

32. Rush-Copley Medical Center

Aurora, IL

33. Monongalia General Hospital

Morgantown, WV

34. Saint Barnabas Health Care Organization

West Orange, NJ

35. Express Personnel Services

Oklahoma City, OK

36. Ochsner Health System

New Orleans, LA

37. Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation

Huntsville, AL

38. Hospice of Marion County & Affiliated Companies

Ocala, FL

39. West Virginia University Hospitals

Morgantown, WV

40. University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, TX

41. Scottsdale Healthcare

Scottsdale, AZ

42. Vanguard

Valley Forge, PA

43. Fairfield Medical Center

Lancaster, OH

44. Michelin North America

Greenville, SC

45. St. John Health

Warren, MI

46. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Chicago, IL

47. Noblis, Inc. (formerly Mitretek Systems)

Falls Church, VA

48. Frankford Candy & Chocolate Co.

Philadelphia, PA

49. Centers for New Horizons

Chicago, IL

50. Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Garden City, NY

AARP

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. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50 + educators; and our website, www.aarp.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.