Employing older people is a common trend in global companies

A survey last year reported that 31 percent of retirees are eager to return to work because of inflation and concern about their financial future.

But should organizations hire older workers, those around age 55 or older? Absolutely! But experienced HR professionals know that ageism and stereotyping of older workers is all too common in many organizations. In fact, most would single it out as the most common form of workplace discrimination.

After all, age transcends all races, religions, genders, and ethnic groups, and we will all be "old" if we live long enough. The little corporate secret that no one will openly admit is that age discrimination is generally accepted, even if it is not intended.

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Many feel that older workers are slower, less technically skilled, untrainable, less engaged and generally too old-fashioned to fit into the modern workplace. They are considered to be relics that have nothing "new" to contribute.

Untapped workforce

The truth is that older workers can be a great asset to many organizations. In particular, older workers often have very good skills which are based on their years of experience. These are not just job skills: they often have the "soft skills" that employers are looking for.

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They are generally reliable and stable and are less likely to move from employer to employer than younger workers, reports Akademi Pune.

A 2020 academic article in Journal of Business Diversity with co-authors Dr. Stephanie K. Douglas and Dr. Robin A. Roberts, found that older workers, those over 63 had higher levels of workplace engagement than any younger age group.

Many older workers are excellent mentors to younger workers, especially with regard to strategic thinking, guiding corporate policies within organizations, and the intricacies of work that only come with experience.

Another advantage is the fact that many older workers are positive "advocates" for the employer and can help younger employees understand things rationally.

With these obvious advantages of hiring older workers, and with most organizations struggling to find workers, a greater focus on this demographic can provide a competitive business advantage and better investment of workforce resources. /KP/

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