Scripps Health Ranked Among Nation's Top Employers

Reinforcing its track record as one of America’s top employers, Scripps Health has been ranked No. 4 in the nation in AARP’s 2007 listing of the 50 Best Employers for Workers Over 50, while Working Mother magazine has named Scripps Health to its 2007 list of America’s 100 Best Companies for its family-friendly policies.

The rankings will be published in the November-December 2007 issue of AARP The Magazine and the October 2007 issue of Working Mother. Scripps Health is the only San Diego-based organization to be named to either of these national lists in 2007 and was AARP’s highest-ranked California employer this year. Scripps Health has been included on the AARP list for four consecutive years, and the Working Mother list for three straight years.

AARP recognized Scripps for creating policies that value its mature workers, including flexible work schedules, opportunities for training and career development and benefits for current and retired employees. Working Mother cited Scripps for establishing a work environment that is attractive to all women, particularly working mothers, with policies such as job sharing, telecommuting and flextime.

Mature and female employees are an important part of Scripps’ workforce. Approximately 33 percent of Scripps’ employees are age 50 or older, and more than 13 percent of Scripps’ new hires last year were age 50 or older. In addition, 77 percent of Scripps’ employees are women.

Beth Umber, R.N., age 65, has worked in the medical unit at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla for 38 years. She said she appreciates Scripps’ efforts to retain good employees for longer periods of time. “Flexible schedules will keep senior staff in the workplace longer,” said Umber, who now works shorter nursing shifts.

Working mothers Alison Brindle, R.N. and Amy Meier, R.N., both recently gave birth to a son and are advancing their nursing careers at Scripps while maintaining flexible work schedules. The two recently began sharing the job of nurse manager at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla’s labor and delivery unit. Brindle and Meier are the second pair at the hospital to enter into a dual manager role, the first being in the mother-baby unit at Scripps La Jolla.

“We’re both still interested in leadership positions at Scripps in addition to being good moms, and Scripps has enabled us to achieve a nice work-life balance,” said Brindle, who stepped in to fill Meier’s responsibilities as interim nurse manager when Meier took maternity leave. “The staff suggested that Amy and I permanently handle the position, since it’s such a difficult job. We’re grateful that our director supported the proposal.”
Said Vic Buzachero, senior vice president of human resources for Scripps Health:
“We believe it’s important to provide our employees with a wide range of flexible benefits, to help them through the various cycles of their lives and careers.”

Scripps Health achieved high marks in a workforce satisfaction survey earlier this year. The vast majority of Scripps’ 11,000 employees – 85 percent – reported they agree that Scripps Health is a great place to work.

Scripps President and CEO Chris Van Gorder said employee satisfaction plays a vital role the quality of patient care. “By listening and responding to our employees’ needs, we allow them to grow within Scripps in a position that meets their needs, and our patients benefit through the care and compassion of our talented employees.”