{"id":5170,"date":"2015-12-03T14:58:37","date_gmt":"2015-12-03T22:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/?p=5170"},"modified":"2015-12-03T14:58:38","modified_gmt":"2015-12-03T22:58:38","slug":"stay-ahead-of-the-silver-tsunami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk\/about-gov\/stay-ahead-of-the-silver-tsunami\/","title":{"rendered":"Retirement in Government: The Silver Tsunami"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"government<\/a>Stay Ahead of the Silver Tsunami<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here at Hennepin County \u2013 Minnesota\u2019s most populous county \u2013 we\u2019re preparing for the silver tsunami. Almost 43% of our 8,000 employees are preparing to retire in the next five years. When Baby Boomers leave, we will lose not only valued employees but also the skills they have honed over their careers. We are working to prepare a talented new wave of county employees.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Planning for the future<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our home-grown Management Institute is designed for entry- to mid-level managers; this 10-month program focuses on skills required of today\u2019s managers, with training on practical tools and techniques, discussion with county administration and peer coaching. The Leadership Academy targets upper-level managers and directors to offer leadership training, networking, and broad exposure to county issues beyond their own lines of business. Through networking internal programs, employees have access to more than 300 talented alumni across the county.<\/p>\n

In addition, employees have opportunities to transfer knowledge across the organization and to explore and stretch their abilities with temporary assignments in other departments.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keeping good employees <\/strong><\/p>\n

Starting with new employee orientation and going forward, the county\u2019s message to employees is that they are valued and appreciated. We know that highly engaged employees are more likely to stay with the organization, take pride in their work, and think and act creatively and effectively. We offer training and promotional opportunities, a competitive benefits package that includes as much as $5,250 annually in tuition reimbursement per student-employee; paid parental leave; creative health and wellness promotions; and discounts for transportation options that include bus, light rail and the region\u2019s bike-sharing program.<\/p>\n

Starting in 2016, every job at Hennepin County will pay at least $15 an hour.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Growing our workforce<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even with our efforts to keep our employees, we know we still must grow our workforce. Hennepin County is partnering with local community-based organizations and colleges to develop training programs that prepare employees to work across a spectrum of Hennepin\u2019s job classifications including human services, technology, public works, customer service, and health care. Our Career Connections program works with people who are now county clients and help them attain the skills to get a good job with the county that can provide for their families. That benefits all of us.<\/p>\n

In anticipation of our future needs, we also have asked some commonsense but difficult questions:<\/p>\n