Older Workers Are More Valuable Than Ever

Last week we talked about how the iGen is showing a great deal of promise as they begin to enter the workforce. Today we want to look at the opposite end of the spectrum—namely the baby boomers and beyond—to show just how much value they are still able to bring to the table.

Hopefully your organization isn’t one of the many that has fallen into the unfortunate age discrimination trap; because if you’re pushing your older workers out the door, you’re losing some of your best resources.

Some of the negative stereotypes of workers in their 50’s, 60’s and older include things like not being able to handle change; being resistant to new technology; not working well with younger employees; slower to understand things; too tired and burned-out to consistently perform well; and are less creative and productive than younger workers.

However, according to Peter Cappelli and William Novelli, coauthors of the book Managing the Older Worker, the reality is that job performance actually improves as we enter those higher ages. These stereotypes are just unfounded.

What older workers bring to the table

Instead here are some of the positive attributes you can expect from the 50+ crowd:

• Large network of contacts – with many years of experience behind them, older workers have had the opportunity to develop relationships with a large number and variety of people
• Mentoring – young workers can learn a lot from their older counterparts who are often strong role models and motivators  
• Greater sense of loyalty – they’re less likely to switch jobs than younger workers and that leads to less time hiring and training someone new
• Good work attendance – many older employers actually have better work attendance than their younger counterparts for non-health related absences
• Strong professionalism and work ethic – it is important to them to do well and this also makes them good with detail and organization
• Care about community and have a sense of purpose – psychological and social fulfillment are strong motivators for this group
• Decades of experience – in both work and life, often brings a more well-rounded approach to things
• Patience – when dealing with stress and crises, older workers have developed the patience to think things through rather reacting emotionally   

Things for older workers to keep in mind

Of course, as with any age, older workers need to stay current. That means keeping your computer skills sharp, making good use of social media, staying on top of trends in your field, and staying in touch with contacts. In fact, reaching out to as many acquaintances as possible, like college alumni, past coworkers and members of relevant professional organizations, is more important in today’s employment marketplace than ever before. And, last but not least, staying active also goes a long way in keeping both mind and body strong.

Rather than pushing older workers out the door, we should be encouraging them to stay – and to introduce us to their friends.

For more information on building the best talent network, please contact us at 415-835-0202 or via email sales@talentcircles.com.