AARP is dedicated to a progressive work environment where employees can grow in their current jobs and also build a career to meet their highest aspirations. To deliver on our mission to serve all people 50-plus, our organization is committed to fostering a collaborative environment where learning, teamwork and innovation are the hallmarks of our everyday work and diversity is the cornerstones of our mission and culture.
Our Commitment to Diversity
AARP maintains a diverse and inclusive workforce and valuing the differences of our employees is a strategic business priority. We encourage individuality where each person’s strengths are leveraged towards the mission of the whole. AARP is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace culture that respects and values individual differences, enabling employees and volunteers from diverse backgrounds to perform and contribute to their full potential.
Our employees come from different racial, ethnic, generational, sexual orientation, gender identity, societal, and cultural backgrounds. Their varied life and work experiences directly contribute to supporting AARP’s strategic vision and mission.
Our organization strives to be a catalyst for changing long-held perceptions, fostering collaboration and innovation, and sharing new outlooks on the issues and challenges facing people 50-plus. There is no doubt that the diverse workforce AARP currently employs and actively seeks out to hire makes those goals more attainable.
Celebrating the Differences that Unite Us
Strategic Engagement Employee Resource Groups (SEERGs) are a safe, fun, and diverse outlet for all staff to engage, participate, and contribute to their individual success and the success of AARP. SEERGs are individually and collectively catalyzing an effective organization where AARP staff are engaged, empowered, and optimizing our diversity and individuality towards AARP’s work, vision and social mission.
Our SEERGs have a critical role to play in recruitment, retention, marketing and outreach, and customer and member relations. Just as important, they support AARP’s commitment to keeping its promise to its 50-plus members and society, being relevant to diverse communities, and sustaining effective and efficient organizational health. Participation in the SEERG groups is encouraged and welcomed. We currently have 11 SEERG groups making a difference in our organization and community:
- Adelante (Hispanic/Latino)
- AsiAm (Asian-American)
- Black Caucus
- Caregiving
- Fit and Wellness
- Green
- Disaster Management
- Emerging Leaders
- Millennial
- PRiSM (LGBTQ)
- Women’s
Our Commitment to the Community
“To Serve, Not to Be Served” the philosophy of our founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus
“Accepting as our slogan, ‘To serve, not to be served,’ AARP, through its publications, its chapters, and the dedicated service of its thousands of volunteers, we are developing challenges and opportunities for constructive community action; it is nourishing a mounting concern, care and capacity for the welfare of others and helping in a myriad of ways those who need and are lacking in love, self-confidence and faith in their future.”
(“A Call for Service,” Modern Maturity, April/May 1967)
Community service was a part of our founder’s vision for AARP and remains a keystone of AARP today. AARP encourages all employees to volunteer their time and make a difference in their communities and our society. The AARP Community Builders program provides employees paid time—up to six days each year—to participate in community service activities that support AARP’s commitment to volunteerism.