The Best Employers Award for 50 Plus Canadians™ (BEA) was created by the Workplace Institute to recognize and reward organizations for innovative and effective programs and initiatives that lead to improving best practices for 50-plus workers while achieving organizational goals. Starting in 2012 the Centre for High Experienced Talent will, with the support of the Workplace Institute, take the lead in evaluating submissions and rewarding the winners.
Objective
The goal of the BEA is to demonstrate and promote organizational success through groundbreaking and inventive approaches in human resources management of 50-plus workers and to encourage an environment of innovation and excellence in older worker practices. Organizations that embrace these innovative strategies benefit from renewed workforce engagement and reputation enhancement as employers of choice in an increasingly competitive labour market.
To this end, the Centre for High Experienced Talent with the support of the Workplace Institute is interested in “good news” stories—the ways in which your organization has introduced new ideas or programs with older employees and reaped the rewards for individuals, teams and the organization.
Award Categories
The BEA seeks to recognize great practices for 50-plus workers in one or more of these categories:
- career development
- retention
- re-skilling for a changing work environment
- recruitment
- workplace culture/practices
- engagement
- management practices
- knowledge transfer and management
- health support
- workplace transition
- retirement/retiree practices
- benefits
- pensions
- recognition
Eligibility Criteria
- All workplaces with 10 or more employees and in business for more than three years
- All business sectors—private, not-for-profit, academic institutions, labour organizations and governments
- One or more divisions of the same large organization, if an individual unit has created a unique practice or program
- Smaller workplaces (those with fewer than 50 employees) are eligible for a special award recognizing achievement in the small business category
Application Deadline
All applications must be received by Dec 15, 2012.
Winner Benefits
- National and local publicity
- Publication of an account of the organization’s success story on the Best Employers for 50 Plus Canadians webpage at www.workplaceinstitute.org
- Recognition at the Summit for the Mature Workforce at a luncheon to honour the winners (attendees of the Summit include CEOs, HR professionals, leaders from government, industry associations and academic institutions and the media)
- Recognition as a winner and a posting on the Best Employers for 50 Plus Canadians webpage at www.workplaceinstitute.org
- Unlimited use of the Best Employers Award for 50 Plus Canadians™ logo for one year on organizational promotional materials – a valuable brand enhancement for recruitment efforts and a symbol of progressive human resources management
Evaluation
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- description of the program/idea/initiative
- rationale
- responsiveness to the needs of the 50-plus worker or organization
- innovation
- quality
- effectiveness of the initiative, measured by workplace change and other demonstrable results
Applicants may apply in one or several categories. The application may focus on one great initiative or program that meets the needs of the 50-plus workforce in any of the eligible categories or on many smaller initiatives across several categories that cumulatively make the organization a great place to work for the mature employee.
Previous BEA winners have demonstrated that HR policies implemented for the benefit of the entire organization may have unexpected benefits or be especially appreciated by its 50-plus workforce. Applications may include or highlight inclusive policies not specifically directed at 50-plus workers and show how they affect and are valued by 50-plus workers in the organization.
Cost
There is no charge to apply for the Best Employers Award for 50 Plus Canadians™.
Important Dates
| Registration start date |
Sept 7, 2012 |
| Registration deadline |
Dec 15 , 2012 |
| Selection Committee convenes to select Best Employers Award for 50 Plus Canadians™ |
Jan 2013 |
| Best Employers Award for 50 Plus Canadians™ Award Ceremony |
Feb 2013 |
Award Selection Process
Organizations that meet the initial screening criteria (see Evaluation, above) must apply by completing the application form below.
Winners of the Best Employers Award for 50 Plus Canadians™ will be determined by the BEA Selection Committee comprised of workplace experts from across the country and guided by the objectives, approach and methodology outlined in this document.
Awards will be based on the application itself, answers to the eight questions in the “Tell Us Your Story” section, and follow-up interviews with designated key contacts in the organization to be conducted by the BEA Selection Committee.
All applications are treated as confidential. The information your organization provides will be used to facilitate evaluation of your application and give you feedback; it may also be used in published accounts of best workforce practices attributed to your organization. The Workplace Institute will feature winners of the Best Employers Award for 50 Plus Canadians™ and their best practices on the Best Employers for 50 Plus Canadians webpage at www.workplaceinstitute.org. If you are providing information that is particularly sensitive or proprietary and you want to ensure that it is not published anywhere, please indicate which information is confidential in your application. It will be discussed with you on a follow-up call.
Directions for Applying
All applications must be submitted by email to: bjaworski@workplaceinstitute.org
Please ensure that:
- You have completed all fields in the application form
- Your application provides as detailed a description as possible of your initiative and how it applies to your 50-plus workforce, in order to give the Selection Committee and judges the best overview of your organization.
- Your application is received on or before Dec 15, 2012.
By applying, you understand that your application will be reviewed by the Selection Committee and the Workplace Institute. You also understand that if your organization is selected to receive an award, you hereby give permission to have information about your best practice shared for publication unless you indicate that specific information is proprietary.
Contact Information
For further information about the Best Employers Award for 50 Plus Canadians, please contact:
Barbara Jaworski B.Sc. MBA
bjaworski@workplaceinstitute.org
Workplace Institute
1-877-610-0109 ext.210