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Age-Friendly Workplace Programs

Age-Friendly Workplaces Conference 2020

A collaboration between University of Iowa and nonprofit Transamerica Institute. Funding provided by NextFifty Initiative and co-sponsored by the Office of Governor Jared Polis.

On February 27, 2020, Transamerica Institute hosted a groundbreaking event dedicated to showcasing best practices for recruiting and retaining experienced employees. It will unveil research findings from the Colorado’s Above-Fifty Employment Strategies (CAFES) initiative. Conference attendees had the opportunity to network and learn from experts in local CO and national organizations about the impact of population aging on the workforce and the imperative of integrating experienced employees into the workplace. The event was free, held at the McNichols Center Building, and catered to HR professionals, company executives, and others interested in the aging workforce and shaping the future.

Age-Friendly Workplace Programs: Recruiting and Retaining Experienced Employees

Conference Agenda
February 27, 2020 
McNichols Civic Center Building  | Denver, Colorado

Print Agenda


9:00 AM - 9:20 AM  |  Check-in, Coffee, & Networking

9:20 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.  |  Welcome 
Catherine Collinson,  CEO and President, Transamerica Institute 

9:30 AM - 9:40 AM |  Greetings from the Capitol
Jared Polis,  Colorado Governor (Invited) 

9:40 AM - 10:15 AM  |  Future of Work 
Joe Barela, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM  |  Break and Networking

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM  |  Keynote - The Longevity Economy 
Paul Irving,  Chairman, Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM  |  Key Findings from CAFES' Age-Friendly Workplace Programs Research
Brian Kaskie,  Associate Professor, University of Iowa - Health Management and Policy
 
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM  |  Lunch and Table Discussions of Best Practices

1:15 PM - 2:00 PM  |  Living, Learning and Earning Longer & Employers Taking the Lead 
Panel discussion with experts in age-diverse workforces, including:

  • Ramsey Alwin, Director, AARP Thought Leadership
  • Rick Guzzo, Partner & Co-Founder, Mercer Workforce Sciences Institute

Moderated by Richard Eisenberg , Managing Editor, Next Avenue

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM  |  Connections Among Colorado Nonprofits
Panel discussion with leaders of local initiatives, including:

  • Karen Brown, Director, Changing the Narrative Age-friendly Workplace Initiative; CO Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging
  • Khristine Rogers, State Director, Senior Planet & OATS
  • Janine Vanderburg, Director & Chief Catalyst, Changing the Narrative

Moderated by Catherine Collinson

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM  |  Break & Networking

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM  |  State Policies and Programs Pertaining to Experienced Employees
Panel discussion with CO experts, including:

  • Kelly Folks, Division Manager, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
  • Dr. Christian Itin, CO Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging (SAPGA)
  • Katherine Keegan, Director, CO Office of the Future of Work

Moderated by Janice Blanchard, Office of Governor Polis

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM  |  What's Next - Phase Two of CAFES Research in Colorado
Brian Kaskie and Catherine Collinson

4:00PM  |  Adjourn

Presentations

[1/8] Age-Friendly Workplaces Conference
 
This ground-breaking conference -- Age-Friendly Workplace Programs: Recruiting and Retaining Experienced Employees -- explores the opportunities of an aging workforce and win-win situations with recognizing the value of age 50+ workers. We have an exciting roster of national experts, local Colorado officials, and local nonprofits.

Speaker:

  • Catherine Collinson, CEO and President, Transamerica Institute


[2/8] Greetings from Colorado's Capitol

Colorado Governor, Jared Polis, shares his vision of “Colorado for All” so that people of all ages have every opportunity to succeed and thrive. Employers need to create age-friendly workplaces, as more and more older Coloradans will want or need to stay in the workforce past traditional retirement age. Organizations need to respond to the unique demands of experienced employees and provide additional training or assistance. Colordado’s workforce should have no room for age discrimination.

Speaker:

  • Jared Polis, Colorado Governor
[3/8] The Future of Work in Colorado

Colorado faces a critical-skills shortage with a quickly aging workforce. This presents opportunities to retain age 50+ experienced workers and offer lifelong learning to workers while on the job. Colorado’s Department of Labor and Employment strives to serve the needs of this changing workforce and to support reskilling and upskilling as industries evolve so workers can stay relevant and productive.

Speaker:

  • Joe Barela, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Download Joe Barela's presentation

[4/8] The Longevity Economy

Aging populations are creating new opportunities and markets for older people around the world. Every company should have a strategy for tapping into the human capital value of older adults and multigenerational teams. There is also market potential for creating innovative solutions to aging in place and social isolation. Paul Irving emphasizes that these business interests of an aging population also enhance the health, financial security, and purpose for the benefit of all.

Keynote Speaker:

  • Paul Irving, Chairman, Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging
Download Paul Irving's presentation

[5/8] Age-Friendly Workplaces Research

Colorado’s Above-Fifty Employment Strategies (CAFES) – a collaboration between nonprofit Transamerica Institute and the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health, with funding from Colorado-based NextFifty Initiative – surveyed 146 employers across the state of Colorado to examine the ways businesses are recruiting and retaining experienced employees (age 50+ workers). Dr. Brian Kaskie’s survey findings reveal that Colorado is experiencing the impact of “structural lag,” where demographic shifts are ahead of the systems, processes, and societal practices. It also highlights a myriad of opportunities to recognize the vital contributions of experienced employees and to build policies to successfully meet their changing needs.  

Speaker:

  • Brian Kaskie, Associate Professor, University of Iowa - Health Management and Policy

Read the full CAFES research report 

[6/8] Living, Learning and Earning Longer & Employers Taking the Lead

An age-diverse and inclusive workforces are the future, yet many employers are failing to recognize older workers’ potential to live, learn, and earn longer. A panel of experts share empirical evidence debunking misperceptions about older workers and discuss best practices for creating a culture of respect, establishing policies and procedures, and identifying work incentives.

Panelists:

  • Ramsey Alwin, Director, AARP Thought Leadership
  • Rick Guzzo, Partner & Co-Founder, Mercer Workforce Sciences Institute
  • Moderated by: Richard Eisenberg, Managing Editor, Next Avenue
Download Ramsey Alwin's presentation 

Download Rick Guzzo's presentation 

[7/8] Connections Among Colorado Nonprofits

Colorado nonprofits showcase their efforts in providing resources for older adults in the workplace. Through workshops, webinars, and training, these groups discuss age-friendly initiatives around life-long learning and upskilling. Nonprofits also promote the need to change the narrative on aging and ageism. Creating a more inclusive workforce that both thinks and speaks positively of older workers will set the stage for an age-friendly Colorado.

Speakers:

  • Karen Brown, Director, Changing the Narrative Age-Friendly Workplace Initiative; CO Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging
  • Khristine Rogers, State Director, Senior Planet & Older Adults Technology Services (OATS)
  • Janine Vanderburg, Director & Chief Catalyst, Changing the Narrative
  • Moderated by: Catherine Collinson, CEO and President, Transamerica Institute
 

[8/8] Colorado Age-Friendly Sate Policies and Program

Colorado is on the forefront of innovative programs and policies to support experienced employees in the workforce. A panel of experts discuss how several state agencies are working together to envision and support the future of work. Topics range from integrating rural communities, attracting experienced employees to workforce development centers, guiding public-private partnerships, educating employers and helping them integrate best practices, to debunking myths about experienced employees.

Speakers:

  • Kelly Folks, Director, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
  • Dr. Christian Itin, CO Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging (SAPGA)
  • Katherine Keegan, Director, CO Office of the Future of Work
  • Moderated by Janice Blanchard, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Polis

Media

August 14, 2019 - Researchers seek Colorado business participation in survey to identify best practices for recruiting and retaining age 50+ workers

Research teams at the University of Iowa College of Public Health and nonprofit Transamerica Institute®, with funding from Colorado-based NextFifty Initiative, are encouraging employers in Colorado to participate in a statewide survey. The survey focuses on ways businesses are recruiting and retaining experienced employees, as well as programs employers have in place to help these employees prepare for retirement. The results will be shared at a conference in 2020 and will inform a pilot program with approximately 30 businesses to help them implement best practices for an age-friendly workplace. 

Conference Recap on Twitter #CAFES2020

1. Greetings from the Capitol with Jared Polis, Colorado Governor

 

2. Future of Work with Joe Barela, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

 

3. The Longevity Economy with Paul Irving, Chairman, Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging

 

4. Key Findings from CAFES' Age-Friendly Workplace Programs Research with Dr. Brian Kaskie, Associate Professor, University of Iowa - Health Management & Policy

 

5. Living, Learning & Earning Longer with Rasmey Alwin, Director, AARP Thought Leadership

 

6. Age and Performance with Rick Guzzo, Partner & Co-Founder, Mercer Workforce Sciences Institute

 

Research on Age-Friendly Workplace Programs

Download the full CAFES research report

Colorado Age-Friendly Workplaces Research Report

About CAFES

Colorado’s Above-Fifty Employment Strategies (CAFES)  is a two-year project that aims to transform the way employers shape the future of aging in Colorado, by addressing how they meet the needs and preferences of experienced employees (age 50+ workers). It is a collaboration between researchers at The University of Iowa College of Public Health and content experts at Transamerica Institute. This project has been made possible by a grant from Colorado-based nonprofit NextFifty Initiative. 

Population aging, a phenomenon resulting from the combination of longer life expectancies and lower birthrates, has widespread implications for both employees and employers across the state of Colorado. Indeed, Colorado’s workforce is growing older. In 2015, working Coloradans over the age of 55 accounted for 20 percent of the state workforce. By the year 2030, more than one in four persons working in the state of Colorado will be over 55. Many workers will want and/or need to stay in the workforce beyond traditional retirement age in order to adequately save and achieve financial security when they retire.

The project’s overarching goal is to transform how employers address the needs and preferences of experienced employees across the state of Colorado. The two-year project will accomplish these four specific goals:

  1. Through a survey of Colorado employers, identify and assess how they are addressing experienced employees,
  2. Disseminate information about best practices adopted by Colorado employers,
  3. Facilitate implementation of best practices among Colorado employers, and
  4. Initiate a state-wide public awareness campaign that highlights how employers can successfully address the implications of Colorado’s aging workforce.

By illuminating how employers are addressing this unprecedented labor force change and identifying policies and programs that have the greatest impact on experienced employees, best practices can be shared across the state. This effort to move Colorado’s employers closer toward meeting the needs and preferences of an age-friendly workplace constitutes a substantive contribution to improving future opportunities to age successfully in Colorado.

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The University of Iowa College of Public Health works to promote health and prevent injury and illness through its commitment to education and training, excellence in research, innovation in policy development, and devotion to public health practice. www.public-health.uiowa.edu

Transamerica Institute ® is a nonprofit, private foundation dedicated to identifying, researching and educating the public about retirement, health coverage and better outcomes in personal health and wellness, and other relevant issues facing Americans today. It comprises two research centers: Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies ® and Transamerica Center for Health Studies ®. The Institute is funded by contributions from Transamerica Life Insurance Company and its affiliates and may receive funds from unaffiliated third parties. The Institute is not affiliated with The University of Iowa or NextFifty Initiative. www.transamericainstitute.org/cafes

NextFifty Initiative is a Colorado-based private foundation dedicated to funding mission-driven initiatives that improve the lives of the older adult population and their caregivers. It seeks to fund game-changing efforts to improve and sustain quality of life for people in their second 50 years. NextFifty Initiative educates about proven initiatives and advocates for transformational change. www.next50initiative.org

© 2020 Transamerica Institute®. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Transamerica Institute® (TI) is a nonprofit, private foundation and is funded by contributions from Transamerica Life Insurance Company and its affiliates and may receive funds from unaffiliated third parties. TI and its representatives cannot give ERISA, tax, investment or legal advice. This material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as ERISA, tax, investment or legal advice. Interested parties must consult and rely solely upon their own independent advisors regarding their particular situation and the concepts presented here. Although care has been taken in preparing this material and presenting it accurately, TI disclaims any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of any material contained herein and any liability with respect to it.

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