Fed Older Worker League, an Employee Formed Organization, Addresses
the Issues of Growing Numbers of Older
Federal Employees
The Fed Older Worker League (Fed OWL) is a voluntary non-labor organization which targets issues of interest to all Federal employees but with an emphasis on issues impacting people who are forty or over. Membership is free and currently includes approximately 3,000 Federal employees from 12 different departments and agencies across the U.S.
The organization’s membership is open to all individuals, regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or sexual orientation.
Fed OWL Co-Founder and President, Alan Lewis, established the organization in March 1999. As a Federal employee, Alan felt, as did other colleagues, that there was an increased need for awareness among management and employees about issues impacting older employees.
"I felt that the many issues that impact older Americans were not being addressed in the workplace: long term health care; elder care; life-long learning; continued opportunity to work in a non-hostile environment; and discrimination based on age. Employees needed to understand that these issues impact them so they can be supportive," said Alan.
Alan was also concerned about what he called "a lack of inclusion." Instead of investing in the development of older workers, he felt the full focus was on recruiting younger workers. "We should be full partners in the new millennium. The continued opportunities for training, awards, promotions, and management positions should be just as plentiful for older employees," Alan said. "I also saw a lack of sensitivity in agencies about the value in retaining older workers. There is a need to challenge negative misconceptions about older workers."
He also thought management and employees needed to be more aware of Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA). Employees, he felt, should be informed about the important legal rights and responsibilities that this legislation represents.
Fed OWL Newsletter
Alan issued the first newsletter, Fed OWL, a four-page quarterly newsletter distributed electronically to members, in July 1999. Topics addressed in the Fed OWL newsletter include:
- legislation pertinent to seniors including the Older Americans Act and Social Security issues;
- caregiver issues;
- health issues including depression, osteoporosis, smoking, elder care;
- Fed OWL goals and initiatives striving to integrate with humanresources policies in agencies;
- age discrimination issues and statistics/case studies concerning older worker rights;
- senior resources, including websites;
- senior activities and observances, such as Older Worker Week;
- career enhancement issues for the older worker, such as training and job search; and
- senior volunteerism opportunities.
Fed OWL Goals
The 2001 goals are to expand membership and to expand the presence of programs with special emphasis on age-related issues, as well as training about ADEA. Fed OWL also wants to promote the message that age is a diversity issue.
Significant progress was made on most of the goals set for 2000, such as:
- Continuing to provide the latest and best information on issues that impact members in the workplace and in their retirement life;
- Obtaining a position on an agency Human Resources Council in early 2000;
- Working with agency management to help ensure celebrations of Older Worker Week and Older American Month. Progress continues through 2001 on the other 2000 goals;
- Working with human resources and other groups on their strategic plans and other long term human resource plans to ensure that the valuable roles played by workers over 40 is recognized;
- Working with agency regional administrators and assistant administrators to encourage them to include older worker issues in their diversity plans;
- Developing a Fed OWL website.
Present and future goals are shaped and refined by member input. A survey of members conducted in 2000 revealed their top priorities: 1) expanding opportunities for continued promotions and training; 2) expanding training and sensitivity awareness on ADEA for all managers and employees; and 3) creating more flexible retirement options (e.g., phased retirement).
The survey identified as a number one priority creating a special emphasis program targeted for employees covered by the ADEA (employees 40 and older).
Events
Although there are many initiatives underway with Fed WL, it is the senior activities that evoke the spirit and the comradeship among the members in Fed OWL.
At the most recent activity, Fed OWL members, along with others, participated in an event for the 37th Annual Senior Citizens Day on May 16 in Washington, DC. Many groups traveled across the country for the event, which carried the theme for Older Americans Month, "The Many Faces of Aging." The event was sponsored by the Senior Service Network and the DC Senior Citizens Clearinghouse Committee.
Participants enjoyed a lunch, a martial arts demonstration and "old school dancing," along with a variety of live musical entertainment, all for only $1. All participants were given free materials addressing various senior health topics. Guest speakers included DC Mayor Anthony Williams and the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton, U.S. House of Representatives.
The following day, May 17, Fed OWL members and the other individuals visited the National Museum of Women in the Arts for a special exhibit, "Grandma Moses Premieres." The exhibit was inspiring for all as it highlighted Grandma Moses, whose artistic career began at age 70 when she first started to paint. Ten years later, her work became known and she enjoyed phenomenal success until her death at age 101.
Fed OWL plans are underway for the 2001 observance of National Employ the Older Worker Week in late September. Last year, for the observance, the Fed OWL event featured briefings about important senior issues. Topics addressed included estate planning, women’s health issues, Senior Citizen’s Freedom to Work Act of 2000, Elder Care Resources, and retirement and Social Security issues.
If you are interested in joining Fed OWL or receiving the Fed OWL newsletter, contact Alan Lewis via email at lewis.alan@epa.gov.
F O C U S
PAGE 9
S P R I N
G 2 0 0 1 |
 |
 |
 |
