CVS Health sets sights on recruiting older workers

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — In an effort to differentiate itself, CVS Health is looking to tap into the 24.8% of the workplace the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will be aged 55 years and older by 2024. The company — which currently has a workforce that is 24% older than 50 years of age — has announced that it’s actively recruiting older employees.

“Mature workers play an integral role in the culture at CVS Health by providing increased experience, dependability and a desire to learn new skills,” CVS Health VP workforce strategies and chief diversity officer David Casey said. “Some have been with the company for decades, while others joined our team more recently as a second or third career.”

Among the company’s efforts around mature workers is its Talent Is Ageless initiative, which was created to recruit and retain employees aged 50 years and older by cultivating public and private partnerships. Among the partnerships are such organizations as the American Society on Aging, Experience Works and AARP, among others.

Casey also highlighted having a workforce that contains substantial amounts of mature workers as uniquely positioning CVS Health as a boon for its customer service.

“We know that 9% of Americans aged 65 and older are using at least one prescription drug a month, and 40% use at least five,” he said. “So as we see the baby boomer generation age, having colleagues across the company who can personally relate to these customers and patients is a differentiator for us.”

The Talent is Ageless program also allows for such modifications as telecommuting, flextime, job sharing and compressed work weeks as a way to help mature workers stay in the workplace through its Alternate Work Arrangements program.

“By looking for new ways to integrate the wants and needs of mature workers into our culture, we can ensure that everyone has a place within our company,” Casey said.