Olmsted County recognized as a Certified Age Friendly Employer™

Olmsted County proudly announces its designation as a Certified Age Friendly Employer™ by the Age Friendly Institute. This distinction recognizes Olmsted County’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment for individuals 50 and above.

Olmsted County received this certification after an evaluation of its human resource and management policies and practices. Olmsted County was evaluated against a “best practices” model of organizations recognized for their retention and recruitment of workers ages 50 and up on an “age friendly” or age-neutral basis.

The 12 categories of “best practices” are:

1. General commitment and workforce policies.
2. Organization culture and employee relations. 
3. Workforce planning and composition.
4. Employee retention. 
5. Candidate recruiting. 
6. Management style and practices. 
7. Training and development.
8. Job content and process accommodations.
9. Work schedules, arrangements, and time off.
10. Compensation programs. 
11. Health care benefits. 
12. Savings and retirement benefits.

“Olmsted County is pleased to be designated as an age-friendly employer,” said Olmsted County Human Resources Director Julian Currie. “As an employer, we want candidates who are 50 and older to know they are valued for their knowledge, experience, maturity, reliability, and productivity.”

“At Olmsted County, we have seen firsthand how important it is to have diversity in the workplace and how beneficial it is to work in a multi-generational environment,” explained Olmsted County Administrator Heidi Welsch. “Having diverse perspectives, including those from seasoned members of the workforce, strengthens our operations and outcomes for the community.”

The evaluation process by the Age-friendly Institute is entirely confidential and involves the following components: 

• The institute’s independent research (Lexis/Nexis Law, IRS, ERISA, EEOC) and general public records.
• Phone or in-person interviews to complete the Evaluation Worksheet.
• Consideration of other related public recognition of the employer work environment.  

The Age Friendly Employer Certification program, which began in 2006, has been recognized by AARP and the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. More than 200 of the largest U.S. employers have earned the designation. Recertification is completed every two years.