Seniors-Only Work Group Honors 90-Year-Old Employee
AgeVenture News Service
Evelyn Cicerchi, age 90, was the guest of honor at a recent cake-and-ice-cream birthday celebration given by her co-workers at Bonne Bell Inc in Cleveland, Ohio. Evelyn (photo, front row, fourth from left) works on a "seniors-only" production line for the Cleveland-based manufacturer of cosmetics.
The "seniors-only" production line is the brainchild of 75-year-old Jess A. Bell, a vice chairman at Bonne Bell Inc. Bell (photo, front row, third from left) launched the "seniors-only" program more than three years ago. Ranging in age from 55 to 90, the "seniors-only" production line works a maximum of 20 hours each week.
Evelyn and her senior co-workers operate a series of "blister" packing machines for boxing and shipping Lip Smackers, Lip Lix, and other cosmetics products used by pre-teen and teen-aged girls around the world. During an eight-hour run, each packing machine can produce 14,000 "blister" packs.
These retired teachers, nurses, housewives, and nuns (pictured with Cicerchi and Bell) work from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Members of this "seniors-only" work group earn $7.50 per hour. Through word of mouth and formal publicity efforts, the program now has a waiting list of job applicants.
Vice Chairman, Jess A. Bell says the company has benefited enormously from the work ethic and productivity of this senior group of employees. According to the 75-year-old Bell, the "seniors-only" program concept is gaining national attention from other cosmetic companies who are intrigued by the productivity and dedication of mature workers.
Photo credit: George A. Becker, Lakewood, Ohio
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