The Ageing Workforce – Problem or Opportunity?
Mature workers are sometimes dismissed merely based on stereotypes. Rod Irvine, managing director of Leaderboard, explains why baby boomers looking for a job should be seen as a gold mine of experience and advice.
For some time we have heard much about the cohort of baby boomers and the effect their retirement will have on the demands of the public sector in terms of health and aged care. There are concerns that there simply won’t be enough of the younger generation to support this group as it moves through late working life and into retirement.
I believe it’s time to look at this group of people in a completely different light. Instead of being seen as a group of decrepit seniors with a range of health ailments, many have reaped the benefits of modern medicines, healthy lifestyles and an advanced education. As discussed at the recent GAP Summit on Productive Ageing, today the average 55 year old can look forward to an even longer life expectancy than a 55 year old could have 30 years ago. Many are also technology savvy.
The older worker has one key attribute that can’t be learnt at University and that is experience, gained by 30 years or more working in an industry or even a range of sectors. That experience forms a body of knowledge and set of interpersonal skills honed by witnessing first hand what works and doesn’t work so well in business.
To dismiss an older worker as lacking in skills and ability is falling into the trap of stereotyping. On the contrary, this generation should be seen as a gold mine of experience and advice. They have a mature and well-established work ethic and generally won’t require the same level of supervision and oversight that a younger less experienced Gen Y worker may require. They are more likely to portray a greater degree of respect and diplomatic skills than a brash younger worker.
The other thing to consider with the older worker is their stage in life. Most would have brought up their families, have paid off all or most of their house and may have earned at least a modest amount of superannuation that could be drawn down under the transition to retirement arrangements. Many may have already climbed the corporate ladder once or twice and may have a different perspective on life and what work is about than when they started out.
They may have developed a range of personal interests outside of work. These interests could be sports such as golf, cycling or sailing or the arts including music, choir or painting. They may also be enjoying the freedom associated with being an empty-nester or enjoying a greater involvement with grand-children.
Where is all this leading? My proposition is simple. Employers should consider engaging older workers in new ways to take advantage of the experience they offer. I am advocating the active consideration of employing senior experienced workers either on a permanent part-time basis or for shorter contract engagements. This could be along the lines of true job-share arrangements where two workers share what normally be a full time role, or it could be two, three or four days per week and/or late starting times and early or late finish times.
My view is that given many workers stage in life, a range of personal interests outside of work, there could be a growing number of baby boomers looking for that part time work. The benefits of engaging these workers on a permanent part time work are as follows:
- Businesses gain skilled workers with a lifetime of experience for a lower annual salary or wages bill than trying to employ them on a full time basis
- These workers could be used on a range of roles that are not necessarily needed on a full time basis. These roles could include project and program management, working on project boards, reviewing the operations or processes within a business division, or mentoring younger managers that have been identified through a succession management process.
- Given workers have more time for their outside interests and participate in sport and other recreational pursuits, when they are at work, they are more focused and energetic because they have had more time to stay healthy.
- They typically have a lower level of absenteeism that is more prevalent with parents of younger children.
- Work is important for reinforcing self worth and a feeling that one is making a contribution to others, a business or to the economy in general.
- There is also a benefit for the economy. The longer the baby boomers can work, even only on a part time basis, the less of a burden they are likely to become on the health system as they are more active and getting that sense of purpose through work.
This is an issue I have been thinking about for the past six years since my time working as an Adviser for a Minister in the Howard Government. A recent job opportunity that was presented to me enabled me to act on these ideas. I have established Leaderboard, and apart from placing myself on a part-time contract, I am looking to build the business by placing other like-minded people.
Rod Irvine has qualifications in Pharmacy, Computing and Business including an MBA. He has had over 30 years experience in the IT industry and Government including various roles with Digital, Compaq and HP and as an Adviser for Ministers in the NT and Australian Government. He is the Managing Director of the newly formed Leaderboard and is providing Government Relations and Business Development services to Datacom Systems ACT, part of the NZ headquartered Australasian IT Services provider. He is 55 years old.
davidpoole
November 1, 2013 at 12:59 am
Great article
Our company has taken the step of providing an avenue to allow more experienced people to mentor and coach where clients have have found the approach works very well …. http://www.projectcoach.com.au