Durham Regional Hospital Named One of AARP 2007 Best Employers for Workers Over 50

Durham, NC-Durham Regional Hospital ranked 31st on the 2007 list of AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50.

"Employees 50 and over are extremely important because of the skill and experience they bring to the workplace. We rely on their wisdom and leadership," said Durham Regional Hospital Interim CEO, Fran Mauney, BSN, M.Ed. 

Employers apply for the Best Employers honor by submitting an application outlining their exemplary policies and practices toward 50 and over workers. The application process included an extensive assessment and review of companies' 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.

"The AARP designation is an exceptional honor," says Richard Walsh, Ph.D., chief human resources officer. "Durham Regional was evaluated based on numerous criteria. Our outstanding benefits package, as part of Duke University Health System, together with our Human Resources practices and work environment, have earned us this distinction with other companies who are nationally known for their employee-friendly work culture."

Other companies who were acknowledged for their forward thinking policies included the Principal Financial Group (# 9), John Deere (# 27) and University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (#40). Each gained honors in what is the seventh year of AARP's annual Best Employers search.

The Best Employers winners will be honored at a dinner in New York, NY on September 26. 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 will take place earlier that day. 

The Best Employers winners will be featured in the November-December issue of AARP The Magazine.

For a complete list of corporations awarded visit www.aarp.org.