Partnership with CVS Pharmacy

SER National Trains Older Workers in a Partnership with DOL Women’s Bureau and CVS Pharmacy

“It’s hard work, but a great job and it came just in time,” said Martha Rash who has been hired by CVS Pharmacy’s new distribution center in Ennis, Texas. Martha had been unemployed for close to six months when she decided to take the EnterTech job readiness program at the public library. The class was my window to CVS, she said. Martha grew up in Mexico, but raised her family in the U.S. where she had 12 years experience working in a manufacturing setting. Laid off due to a slowing economy, she was unable to find employment until she took the class that led her to a job with CVS. Martha was not able to pass the 6th grade literacy test the first time around, but she brushed up on her English, came back several months later to pass the test and graduate in May. She was a constant source of encouragement to her classmates and a natural leader whose philosophy is “get up & try again and always look forward”, a set of values she has passed onto her two daughters, one graduated recently from college with honors and another plays softball for her college in Oklahoma.  Martha now works full-time and anticipates returning to college one day to continue her education. A real advocate for the company she works for, she tells others about the EnterTech class and the company that doesn’t discriminate.

“Women continue to be the driving force behind the economy and the Labor Department is pleased to work with our partners nationwide to help transform the goals of ‘Better Jobs, Better Earnings and Better Living’ into a reality,” said Women’s Bureau Director Shinae Chun. “The pilot project was developed in cooperation with CVS Pharmacy and other retail businesses and is aimed at helping older immigrant women cultivate job and information technology critical for employment in the 21st century. The partnership resulted in targeted work-readiness programs in Chicago and the Dallas metropolitan area.”

The Department of Labor has long recognized that the benefits of business partnerships are to build pathways to success in the workforce. To achieve this, partnerships have been established with key industries across the country. These important collaborations will assist the Department of Labor in reaching one of its major strategic goals: to develop A Competitive Workforce for the 21st Century. This goal focuses on equipping workers to adapt to rapidly evolving challenges in the workforce. It also recognizes the need to bring underutilized populations into the workforce to fill the worker shortage.

“76 million baby boomers will retire this decade and the next, but
only 45 million Generation Xers are in the pipeline to take their place.”

Steve Wing, director of government programs for the CVS drugstore chain anticipated the demographic changes in the workforce and began preparing for this shortage over ten years ago – it’s a know fact that 76 million baby boomers will retire this decade and the next, but only 45 million Generation Xers are in the pipeline to take their place.

In 1992 , 7% of CVS’s 10,000 employees were over 55. After studying its older workers, they made surprising discoveries. The older worker was much less likely to call in sick than their younger colleagues and the belief that their physical and mental capacities were diminished were just myths.   In the past 10 years, through heavy recruiting efforts, CVS has more than doubled its over-55 workforce, which now represents 16% of the company.

“Employer-Drive Older Worker Demonstration Project Born”

With the combination of CVS’s commitment to hiring the older worker and the USDOL Women’s Bureau commitment to increasing employment opportunities and earnings for women age 50 and older, a business partnership was established and the Employer-Driven Older Worker demonstration project was born. 

In the Ennis area, SER National has trained close to 70 women providing pre-employment skills through a training program called EnterTech, developed by researchers at the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. The goals of the project were to impart crucial personal growth and development skills and help people succeed at work. The program has received the eTexas Commission’s Best Practice Award and also received NYEC/PEPNet recognition. 

“EnterTech includes some training in basic math, reading and writing, but the focus is on job training,” said Emmet Campos, project director.  “Education and training is not the same thing. How will we maintain a highly skilled workforce unless we train people for employment?”

EnterTech is a rich virtual environment that simulates the tasks and workflow of a real distribution center. The program teaches 44 entry-level skills in eight target areas: job, personal, organizational, communication, number, and reading and writing skills. The 45-hour ‘blended learning environment” combines instructor-facilitated work with Web activities. There are decision-making scenarios, group-based projects, print materials, and a self-paced curriculum that adapts to a wide range of instructional models and learning styles.

 To help the women navigate the computer-based program, one week of basic computer literacy skills is offered.   In addition, resume writing and interview skills have been added to the training curricula and a case management component helps the women through the many barriers to success.

“The EnterTech graduates hired to work for us walk through the door a jump ahead of everyone else,” said Dana Hoffman, human resource manager for the CVS Distribution Center. “The program has given them a tremendous foundation and it shows in the one-week training program that we offer: the EnterTech women stand out; they participate and have ideas and thoughts to add to the group.  They are applying what they have learned to the team environment and they are well equipped to deal with confrontational situations that develop on a team.”

Before the EnterTech class, many of the women felt that their opportunities were limited, said Chuck Lundin, the class instructor. Some of them had been out of work for over a year due to layoffs or forced early retirement, and others lacked the skills or confidence to look for work.  For some, the class was very difficult, but by working together and
supporting each other, they passed all their competencies.

“They are grateful for the job,” Dana Hoffman said. “It shows in their work ethic (always on time!) and their dedication to doing a good job.”

SER National Partners with CVS at the Local Store Level

“Where ever there is a SER site and there is a CVS store in the vicinity, rest assured we will work with you and interview those candidates you send to us,” said Irvine Porter, Senior Manager for Government Programs for CVS Pharmacy.

SER National will continue to partner with CVS at the store level in cities across the country as SER affiliates look for job placements in a new program to offer career training and placement to economically disadvantaged workers over the age of 55.    The CVS stores offer an opportunity for seniors to use their skills in customer service; and a plus for CVS - they serve as role models for younger workers.

“We are excited about our partnership with CVS and look forward to other retail business partners to put our seniors to work,” said Rosalinda Treviño-Ortega, National Director of the Senior Community Service Employment Program.  “Employers may be reimbursed for on-the-job training which is a real incentive for them, but they gain workers with a strong work ethic.”  Training programs with CVS have now been initiated in the Boston area and south Florida, she said.

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“The average age of the population and workforce will continue to increase until close to 2020,” authors Richard Judy and Carol D’Amico state in Hudson Institute’s new book, Work Force 2020.   The authors warn that U.S. public policy, as well as many employers, have yet to come to grips with the full implications of America’s aging.  By all accounts, it’s agreed that corporate and industrial America will have to rely more heavily on the over- 50 population.

CVS Pharmacy recognized this phenomenon over ten years ago, the DOL Women’s Bureau is investing in training women over 50 years old and senior employment programs around the country, funded by the Department of Labor, are training older workers to participate in America’s future labor market.  Business, government and non-profit organizations like SER National are working together to develop “a competitive workforce for the 21st century.”