Award

AARP Utah seeks nominations for best employers -- AARP Utah is seeking nominations for its 2009 Best Employers for Workers over 50 awards. The awards are given to employers who offer workplace practices and policies that are friendly to workers aged 50 years and above.

The deadline for applications, which can be submitted at www.aarp.org/bestemployers, is Feb. 13.

The award recognizes innovative organizations that offer policies and practices that appeal to workers 50+, including flexible work options, training/learning opportunities, competitive health and retirement benefits, and age-neutral performance and appraisal systems.

Any employer based in the United States with at least 50 workers is eligible to apply to the awards program. This includes for-profit companies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and local, state and federal government bodies. An independent research firm and a panel of judges made up of national experts will score the applicants. Final ranking is based on these scores after a review by AARP.

As more and more baby boomers turn 60, attracting and retaining skilled workers will become increasingly critical for employers seeking to retain a competitive edge, according to AARP. Estimates are that by 2016, one-third of the total U.S. work force is expected to be age 50 or older, up from 28 percent in 2007.