Allied Universal, a facility services company and a security force provider in North America, has announced that Catherine King, Senior Vice President, Recruiting and Staffing, is a featured speaker at a Capitol Hill briefing on employment needs of unemployed older Americans on Friday, January 19 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. EST at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Room SVC-203-02. The briefing will provide an introduction to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).
“Older Americans, who represent a growing part of the U.S. labour force, struggle to find jobs after becoming unemployed,” says Catherine King. “I am proud that Allied Universal is working with SCSEP to help older adults find jobs and increase their economic self-sufficiency. We benefit from the skills, talents, and experiences of programme participants we have hired thus far and look forward to bringing on more.”
Opportunities for 11,000 seniors
In 2017, the company hired nearly 11,000 seniors as security professionals and in administrative roles. That’s over 7 percent of Allied Universal’s workforce, and it’s growing. Last year, the company also launched its Partners in Employment Community-Based Organization Program (PIE CBO) to help recruit older adults. Organisations that refer seniors can earn a referral payment of $400 per candidate hired.
“We network with a number or groups like AARP to reach this population,” King continued. “They are attractive workers because of their high work ethic and dependability. They are the children of 'the greatest generation.’”
The SCSEP briefing will explore factors driving the conversation for employing older workers, such as an increase in life expectancy and workers prolonging retirement.
Hosted by U.S. Senator Patty Murray, the other speakers include Kelly S. Mikelson, Ph.D., Research Associate, Urban Institute, who authored the white paper The Role of SCSEP in Workforce Training for Low-Income Older Workers; Sharron Holquin, a former SCSEP participant who will share how she turned her work-based training into a full-time job; and Joseph McCarley, Project Director, TERRIFIC, Inc., who will discuss his organisation’s experience in hosting SCSEP participants.