Employee Shortages? Higher an Older Worker

Gene Marks does a regular podcast for The Hartford. His topic a couple of weeks ago was hiring older workers. Marks noted that more retirees and seniors are going back to work because inflation is making it harder for them to make ends meet.

That can be — Marks said — a huge advantage for a company. He said these workers have a lot to offer.

“The most valuable asset that older workers bring to the table is experience,” Marks said in his podcast. “Your younger workers can use their experiences and wisdom and apply it to their own career. Your older workers can help mentor younger employees.”

If you do decide to put an older worker back to work, Marks said you need to consider some things. First of all, you need to be flexible and offer them the same flexibility you offer younger workers. Just because they might be retired doesn’t mean they have unlimited time.

Make sure you plug your new, older employees seamlessly into the technological aspects of your business. Technology and new programs change so fast that they may be way behind when they return to the workforce.

During the hiring process make sure you don’t have any discriminatory language in the employment agreement, and avoid making remarks that might be aimed at the limitations of a person’s age.

You’ll find The Hartford article on the subject and Marks’ comments interesting, as well as important. The entire podcast script can be found at the link below.

Source link: The Hartford — https://bit.ly/4faBBlg