Montefiore Medical Center recently was honored as one of four winners of the New York Academy of Medicine”™s inaugural Age Smart Employer Award. The academy launched the awards program to recognize New York City employers that value workers of all ages and serve as leaders in leveraging the talents of older workers for enhanced business success.
The only heath care system among the honorees, Montefiore last year acquired the former community hospitals and nursing home of Sound Shore Health System Inc. in New Rochelle and Mount Vernon and is expected to close this year on a sponsorship agreement with White Plains Hospital. A major employer in Westchester, the Bronx-based academic medical center also operates administrative offices, a care management subsidiary and medical offices in the county.
Alfredo Cabrera, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Montefiore, in the  award announcement said the honor “recognizes a fundamental part of our culture ”“ that each employee, young or old, new or experienced, can make a meaningful contribution to Montefiore and provide the best care to our patients and their communities.” Montefiore employs workers whose ages range from 19 to 87.
New York Academy of Medicine officials noted that adults 55 and older are the fastest growing segment of the workforce in the U.S. and working well past the typical retirement age. That aging workforce presents unique opportunities for employers who can benefit from the expertise and experience of older workers, they said. They cited research that shows that investing in employees results in an engaged workforce, improved teamwork, better retention and employees that are in full support of an organization”™s mission.
Winners of the Age Smart Employer Award were selected by a panel of business and civic leaders representing key industries in the city. Montefiore was cited for its recruitment, retention and development practices that have built a high-performance workforce of eight generations of employees working side by side.
Montefiore also was recognized for its investment in late career employees through programs including a Leadership Development Academy, formalized mentoring and coaching partnerships and career counseling workshops.
Judges also noted Montefiore”™s commitment to long-tenured associates even into their retirement years. Its 25 Year Club has more than 3,000 life members with 25 years of service. Inductees meet annually with Montefiore executives for a celebration of their dedicated service. Â At retirement, employees can remain an integral part of the Montefiore community by working in a special volunteer network.
“For the first time in history, the number of older workers is growing faster than the number of younger people in the workforce,” said Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford, president of the academy. Â “Montefiore has demonstrated its commitment to embracing and leveraging the unique talents of a multigenerational workforce.”
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