Best Friends Program

We all accept that the workforce is changing, but what is actively being done to prepare for the Silver Economy? Are there organizations in our community actively preparing for the aging workforce and aging in place?

We can probably all think of a few retail businesses that provide employment for aging workers. Outside of retailers seeking low cost employees, are there organizations that actively recruit aging workers for significant and progressive employment?

Changing exisiting attitudes in the employment sector may be acheived by employing an information/awareness campaign that could be combined with recognition program. The target audience would consist of both CEO's and HR professionals, as these targets most affect the progrssive employment of aging workers.

The awards concept would accomplish a number of objectives:

1) Engage business leaders in aging worker issues.
2) Showcase buisness leadership implenting progrssive aging worker programs.
3) Identify and promote success stories.
4) Engage buisiness leaders in aging worker issues.
5) Profile the award host organization as the leader in aging workers issues.
6) Create awareness in general population of aging worker issues.

The design of a recognition program could reflect the endeavors in a number of catagories including: Retail, Manufacturing, Social Service, Recreation, Government, and other areas. The awards could profile aging worker leadership in both small and large independent businesses; as well as the efforts employed by national and internation organizations. The Best Friends program attempts is to engage as many particpants as possible in the nomination and selection process.

Selection of the recipients of the major award winners can be acheived by establishing a selection committee comprised of key community individuals, that would include print, electronic and broadcast media. The selction committee itself may be an excellent vehicle to educate decision makers about aging worker issues. In addition to the final awards winners, all nominations would be recognized for their contributions with some kind of official citation.