September 2022: Employ Older Workers Month

WHEREAS, older workers continue to work to keep active, help supplement their savings, remain financially independent, and contribute to the local and state economy; and,

WHEREAS, Michigan is home to more than 2.4 million adults ages 60 years and older who make positive and lasting contributions to our great state every day, including in the workforce; and,

WHEREAS, laws such as the Older Americans Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act protect older workers from age bias and discrimination, help assure their fair treatment in the workplace, and promote opportunities for employment; and,

WHEREAS, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Aging, Community Living, and Supports values and respects the contributions, knowledge, experience, and skills of older workers, acts as a catalyst to empower older adults to pursue employment in later life, and encourages older adults in Michigan to take full advantage of the resources and opportunities available; and,

WHEREAS, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides opportunities in community service activities for unemployed, low-income individuals ages 55 and older; the program promotes economic self-sufficiency and increases the number of older people who enjoy the benefits of unsubsidized employment in the public and private sectors; and,

WHEREAS, SCSEP (Title V of the Older Americans Act) is one such opportunity to assist low-income older workers in Michigan through employment and training assistance as valued workforce development partners; and,

WHEREAS, in program year 2021, SCSEP participants provided 128,365 hours of community service in Michigan;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 2022 as Employ Older Workers Month in Michigan.