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Sutter North Medical Foundation Recognized for Employing Older Workers
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June 11, 2003
Yuba City, CA - California employers who have demonstrated best practices in hiring and retaining older workers age 40 and over are honored annually with the Governor’s Older Worker and Exemplary Employer Awards. Sutter North Medical Foundation was recognized as a runner-up for the award. Sutter North Medical Foundation earned this recognition through encouragement of older workers to develop their potential as managers with educational programs and providing them opportunities for promotion.
“Educational programs have provided opportunities for older workers to improve their skills and become employed in higher paying positions,” said Diane Smith, Director of Human Resources. “Sutter North Medical Foundation benefits by having a skilled workforce and the individual and our community benefits as well.” In 2002, 12 older workers were promoted to positions of increased responsibility. Forty-three percent of Sutter North Medical Foundation’s workforce is made up of workers over the age of forty.
The Governor’s Awards lunch is held during Older Americans Month in May. The Governor’s Awards began in 1994 to increase public awareness of the important contribution older workers make to California’s economy. It is also designed to recognize innovative employers who provider older workers with job opportunities, training and career advancement. The Senior Worker Advocate Council chooses the semi-finalists from nominations contributed by large and small organizations throughout California. The semi-finalist list is sent to the Governor to select awardees.
California has more people age 50 and over than any other state in the Nation. Data from the California Department of Finance shows that 21 percent of California’s workforce is 50 and over. California’s primary working age population has traditionally been viewed as, 20 to 54 years of age. Because the smaller generation of 20 to 34 age group born after the Baby Boom, the primary working age population will shrink as a share of the state population by three percent by the year 2010 and six percent by the year 2020. This is a national trend. Between now and 2020, the number of workers age 55 and over will increase by about 80 percent in the U.S.
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