AARP Names Scripps One of the Country's Best Employers

Scripps, one of the San Diego region’s largest private employers as well as one of the area’s largest health care providers, has been rated the second-best employer in the country by AARP’s annual survey of “Best Employers for Workers over 50.” This is the second year in a row that Scripps has been named to the AARP best employers list.

AARP’s fifth annual “Best Employers for Workers over 50” award recognizes companies and organizations for their best practices and policies for valuing the mature worker.Companies were evaluated for a wide range of workplace practices, including recruitment, continuing opportunities for advancement, flexible work schedules, and benefits for current and retired employees. The full list of honorees may be found at: http://www.aarp.org/money/careers/employerresourcecenter/bestemployers/.

Scripps was recognized for its flexible scheduling, including phased retirement and health benefits for those individuals considering retirement.Scripps also places great value on its long-service employees, recognizes such employees with more than a 200 percent match as part of its retirement savings plan.Twenty-eight percent of Scripps’ workforce is age 50 or older.

“I feel very fortunate that the hospital allows me to work a flexible schedule so I can take care of my family during the week, "said Carolyn Jones, R.N., a nurse who has worked at Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista for 25 years. “I’m also considering a staged-retirement schedule in the next year or so that I can begin moving into retirement.”

“We are very proud of our staff who deliver extraordinary care to our patients every day. Mature workers are often leaders within the organization and contribute to our overall success through their experience, expertise and discipline.” said Scripps President and CEO Chris Van Gorder. “Being honored with this award from AARP is confirmation that we are on track with our efforts to be the employer of choice – for all workers.”

AARP has found that recent projections point toward a continued jump in the percentage of mature workers in the economy.Fourteen percent of the workforce is aged 55 and older now; the percent is expected to reach 20 percent by 2012.

Scripps will be honored at AARP 2005’s award ceremony in Chicago on September 22, 2005.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to making life better for people age 50 and older. AARP provides information and resources; engages in legislative, regulatory, and legal advocacy; assists members in serving their communities; and offers a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for our members.More information regarding AARP may be found at www.aarp.org.

Scripps Health is a $1.3 billion, non-profit community health system, treating nearly a half-million patients annually through the dedication of more than 3,000 affiliated physicians and 10,500 employees spread across five acute care campuses, home health care services, and an ambulatory care network of clinics, physician offices and outpatient centers. Recognized as a world leader in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, Scripps is in the forefront of disease and injury prevention, clinical research and medical innovation and technology. Scripps provides significant charity care to the community – more than $78 million in uncompensated care in 2004. Scripps Health Foundation generates $30 million annually in charitable donations to support the Scripps mission.
Scripps facilities include: Scripps Green Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista, 11 Scripps Clinic locations, two Scripps Mercy Medical Group locations, and Scripps Home Health Care Services.

Recent accolades include: Best Hospital in San Diego, San Diego Union-Tribune Readers’ Poll, (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005); 100 Most Wired Health Systems (2004, 2005), Hospitals & Health Networks; Best Employer for Employees Over 50, AARP, (2004, 2005); Best Local Large Employer, 2003, SHRM, San Diego,Magnet Hospital (Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla), American Nurses Credentialing Center, NOVA Award, American Hospital Association, 2005.