Nancie Clare Older Workers Make Great Employees! Except Nobody Cares!| Older Workers Make Great Employees! Except Nobody Cares! |
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Now that the New York Times has reported that older workers make good employees, (For a Good Retirement, Find Work. Good Luck) I guess employers around the country will take heed. As if. In spite of the fact that the frightening prospects of 78 million or so of my fellow Baby Boomers leaving the work force en masse and straining the resources of an eviscerated Social Security (eviscerated because the federal government keeps “borrowing” from the Social Security trust fund) would not come to pass if baby boomers kept working, there is no pressure on employers to find a way to retain older workers. And just so you know, survey after survey indicate that baby boomers want to continue working.
Much like cases of past employment discrimination (by race and gender) stereotypes rule the day. Among the excuses proffered by HR departments (many of whom are instructed to ignore resumes from people older than 40): Older workers lack energy, are old fogeys (translated: don’t understand technology) and are old and sick. Yeah, and older workers -- aged around 50 -- don’t have to plan around young families, were there at the beginning of the digital revolution, and are healthier for the most part than their Gen-X counterparts. So there. So, much as I hate the idea, I think that as in the case of employment discrimination by race and gender, the government is going to have to step in and help us fogeys get a gig. My suggestion, however, is not to use a stick -- as in bringing lawsuits against companies -- but the carrot of financial incentives such as underwriting health insurance. And you youngun’s out there reading, remember this: the longer we’re working, the less money we’ll need for social security and the more there will be for you.
Comments (3)
Another Old Fogey
written by lmwolak, August 04, 2008
I am at work every day, while my younger peers at work are taking maternity leave, sick leave to take care of their sick kids, more sick leave when the kids get the parent sick. Or they are too upset about their divorce to work, or busy working on wedding planning. Older workers are much more able to be consistent and we know how to get the job done!
Another Old Fogey Speaks written by taliamurphy, August 20, 2008
I agree with all of the prior postees. Older workers are much more focused for longer periods of time that makes up for being a tad slower at SOME things. They work more consistently and are on time with absenteeism being not as great as younger workers with children.
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Nancie Clare
Nancie Clare is an editor/writer/web content producer (and card-carrying baby boomer) with more than 25 years experience writing about issues that impact everyday life. Nancie is a former managing editor of WomensWallStreet.com as well as a Daily Cents contributor and is currently consulting with a yet-to-be-launched social networking/content site for — you guessed it — baby boomers.
I have at least ten years before I hit actual retirement age, and I hope I will have a choice of whether to keep working or not. I'm 55 now and every day I see at least one opportunity to learn something new and fascinating. And I speak for many others my age.