Nearly 70 percent of participants to a survey conducted by Experience Works and analyzed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), said that if we want more older people in the workplace, we need to encourage companies to provide more training for seniors.
Experience Works announced the results of its survey of more than 300 Outstanding Older Workers from the past six years on October 4. The results of the survey were shared at a briefing by Dr. James Grosch, senior research psychologist from NIOSH.
Unfortunately, more than half of the older workers surveyed felt that there is still significant age discrimination in the workplace and about a third felt that the most important barrier that keeps older people from finding jobs is that employers think older people can't learn new skills.
"It is very significant and sad that our Outstanding Older Workers, people with multiple careers and tremendous accomplishments, comment that these myths and negative stereotypes are still prevalent among employers," said Cynthia A. Metzler, president and CEO of Experience Works. "The fact is, many older people learn differently, but they retain new skills better and they are more reliable and dedicated than younger workers."
The survey also reinforced the need for companies to consider flexible schedules and part-time work if they want to attract older workers. "The demographic trends are clear," said Dr. Grosch. "The aging population is going to force employers to look to the labor pool of older people to satisfy their employment needs. Companies that recognize that older people bring many talents and capabilities to the workplace, and find ways to attract them will have a competitive edge."
America's oldest worker is 101. Horatio "Ray" F. Jenkins, age 101, is America's Oldest Worker for 2007. Mr. Jenkins, maintenance coordinator for the Champlain Valley Exposition in Colchester, Vermont, can repair most things mechanical, electrical or engine-related. That shouldn't be much of a surprise when you consider he has been tinkering with machines since he was 12 years old, or for more than nine decades. In 1952 he joined IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York, and worked at IBM for nearly 20 years before retiring. This past summer, he was honored as one of IBM's oldest retirees at the company's 50th anniversary of moving to Vermont. After retiring from IBM, he quickly discovered his hobbies of coin collecting, fishing, playing cards and bowling weren't nearly enough to keep his mind fully stimulated, so he began doing odd jobs on the grounds of the Champlain Valley Exposition (CVE).
Twenty-eight years later Mr. Jenkins is still employed by the Champlain Valley Exposition. He wakes at 4 a.m. and by 5 leaves the Colchester house he built and travels to the Essex Junction fairgrounds to put in a full days work. When asked about cutting back his hours as he approached his hundredth birthday, he said, "I work 40 hours just like everybody else. If I can't do things, I don't want to be here."
Cynthia Metzler, president and CEO of Experience Works said, "Mr. Jenkins is a wonderful example of how seniors who stay active, both mentally and physically, can continue to make valuable contributions to the workplace and to their communities."
Reprinted with permission. © CCH