Aging Gracefully in Corporate America
The graying of this country is showing up in corporate America as the many boomers have begun reaching the 60-year-old mark. If the majority of this generation retires at age 65, they will create a shortage of skilled workers.
Yet, there are many of this generation who have either enjoyed their work and don’t want to retire, and more who believe they can’t afford to retire. What can organizations do to create a win-win scenario for both the company and the employee? And what can older workers do to insure that they will not be “put out to pasture?” This is a crucial dilemma of the new millennium.
What Companies Can Do
Our definition of work began back during the industrial revolution. The idea of going someplace to do something for a definite and uniform period of time is how most of us still define work. Yet, telecommuting is one example, which has already shifted that paradigm. In order to create higher productivity and to reinvigorate older workers, the meaning of work must change. In order to accomplish this, management and employees must work together to create unique environments that suit the worker and his or her company.
This may require a new type of organization; a new type of “re-engineering” that gives greater flexibility to both the corporate world and to older workers, who can travel or work on their own projects when they are not working part time in the organization.
Other ideas to increase productivity and utilize older workers include:
- Mentoring: Use retirees as (paid) mentors to newly hired college grads.
- Flexible Work Alternative: Give senior employees a three-to-six month leave of absence, and still return to the same job.
- Tapering Off the Workload: Permit employees to reduce their workload to as little as 20 hours per week.
What Workers Can Do
What do individuals need to know to keep up-to-date with the changing workplace, so that they aren’t led “out to pasture” before they want to go?
- Continual Learning: Take classes (on your own or within your company’s educational programs) to continuously upgrade your abilities. This will make your skills valuable when it comes time for your boss to decide to keep.
- Attitude: Keep a positive attitude. If you are an “up” person, one who is interested in the company, the people, and are interesting to be around, you will be noticed and considered before someone who always has a dark cloud over their head.
- Live in the Present: Realize that the “good ‘ol days” are gone. If you are truthful, you’ll know that the “good ‘ol days” weren’t always so good. Learn to accept and appreciate the way the world is now. Yes, some things were better when you were younger, but some things are better now. Being “fully present” and focused on what you are doing, will not only help you do a better job, but it will also allow you to be happier because you won’t be comparing today to the past.
Summary
When organizations and employees work together to solve the dilemma that will be created when baby boomers retire, there will be new meaning to the world of work. There will be increased motivation on the part of older workers about their work and increased productivity as the bonus for the organizations willing to lead the way for boomers to age gracefully in corporate America.
