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Does your agency, organization or company actively recruit and engage encore workers? Have you put in place policies that make it a comfortable environment for people over age 50? Are you proud of what you're doing to tap the encore talent pool to meet your organization's mission?

AARP’s annual Best Employers for Workers 50+ award recognizes companies and organizations from all sectors that are creating “roadmaps for the workplaces of tomorrow.” Applications for the 2009 contest are due by February 13.

If you'd like, the Encore Careers campaign of Civic Ventures invites you to send a copy of your application to chalvorsen@civicventures.org or to 114 Sansome St., Suite 850, San Francisco, CA 94104.

Judges consider five criteria when reviewing your application: recruiting practices; opportunities for training, education and career development; alternative work options, such as flexible scheduling, job sharing and phased retirement; employee health and pension benefits; and opportunities for retirees. Companies must employ at least 50 workers to be eligible.

Last year's list of winners was again dominated by health care providers and large companies, but showed non-profit organizations are also starting to adopt the kind of flexible scheduling and benefit programs that work in the private sector.

Among the winners was the The YMCA of Greater Rochester (N.Y.), also a winner of a
BreakThrough award from Civic Ventures and the MetLife Foundation. The Y offers job sharing, part-time positions and flexible schedules to recruit older adults to better match its membership base. The older employees have proven to be more reliable and more likely to complete assignments, and the turnover rate for those 50 and older is just 2 percent, compared to 20 percent overall.

Centers for New Horizons, a child and community development organization in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, and the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, N.J., also made the list.

Before submitting an application, AARP recommends that you:

• Use examples. Don’t just tell what types of workplace policies you have. Give examples and provide concrete outcomes.
• Policies that benefit workers over age 50 count. If they happen to benefit other employees, too, be sure to mention that fact.
• Don’t leave any section blank. Even if you don’t offer a formal program or practice, you can still write about related informal ways you help workers over age 50.
• Talk up your company. Judges may award you more points.
• Submit your application on time. The deadline is Friday, February 13, 2009.

For more information, visit AARP’s Best Employers for Workers Over Age 50 Web site, email aarpbestemployershelp@tns-global.com or call 1-800-456-7485.