Ruth Finkelstein, ScD

Ruth Finkelstein, ScD

The New York Academy of Medicine announced the winners of the inaugural聽聽on February 6. This award program鈥斺攈onor New York City employers who value workers of all ages. The Age Smart Employer Awards is an initiative of the聽聽and is funded by the聽. The four exemplary winners represent different strengths in聽, as well as different sectors, workplace sizes, and boroughs. These organizations are industry leaders ahead of the curve. Let me tell you why the聽聽chose them.

, a nationally recognized 1,490-bed health care delivery system in the Bronx, treats more than 90,000 inpatients and employs more than 20,000 people. Montefiore was selected because of the sheer number of its Age Smart practices, combined with particularly exemplary management training regarding the multigenerational work force. Specifically, the hospital鈥檚 administrators partner with union leaders to train staff in cultural diversity, including education on how to manage four generations in the workplace. Montefiore also prepares its associates for a 鈥済ood鈥 retirement and offers reduced work schedules, assignment to special projects, and other strategies to help older workers鈥 transition into retirement. The hospital also invests in training and development of all workers across all phases of their careers. One example is a six-month program鈥斺淪chool at Work鈥濃攖hat helps associates from ancillary departments learn core health care skills, enabling them to return to school and enter new health care professions.

, a global biopharmaceutical company, has 79,000 employees worldwide鈥攎ore than 3,000 of them in New York City. Pfizer鈥檚 鈥溾 campaign challenges and redefines what growing old means and promotes healthy aging in the context of brand and product advertising messages. The company has brought the campaign鈥檚 principles into the workplace, engaging employees with comprehensive wellness programs and offering health condition management practices that take into account the unique challenges of aging. Pfizer also has strong mentorship programs and leads in caregiver support programs. For example, Pfizer encourages caregiver-friendly business polices through its cosponsorship of聽聽(Respect a Caregiver鈥檚 Time), a multicompany leadership initiative that helps employers understand the difficulties of being a working caregiver. Pfizer鈥檚 Mentor Match, another Age Smart practice, connects employees by enabling mentor-mentee partnerships among thousands of employees of all ages and experience levels.

聽employs 50 people at its two locations in Harlem and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Settepani, like many small businesses, operates more from its owners鈥 hearts than from a corporate procedures manual. The company鈥檚 salient Age Smart employment practice is commitment to treating employees as family, embracing their talents, interests, and aspirations. At Settepani, all employees receive continual training to keep their skills current, with a special focus on new technologies that can have a big impact on the bottom line. The company cross-trains all incoming staff and provides multiple training formats to accommodate workers鈥 needs.

聽provides long-term care for people living with chronic and acute health conditions. Based in New York City, the organization has a staff of more than 100. Renewal Care Partners excels in recruiting, training, and using insights from older workers in their roles as caregivers. For example, through robust partnerships with community-based organizations, the organization identifies older adults uniquely qualified to work with older clients. Additionally, it offers external training opportunities and encourages staff to take on greater leadership roles.

This first group of Age Smart Employer winners exemplifies the central tenet of the award: Age Smart policies and practices are good for business, good for employees, and good for the community. I invite you to learn more about the winners by viewing their聽. Each winner is an industry leader and we are eager for their peers to follow.


Author

Ruth Finkelstein, ScD
Senior Vice President for Policy and Planning
The New York Academy of Medicine
贰尘补颈濒:听rfinkelstein@nyam.org