Diversity in Age Brings Benefits
Research published last week by the Department for Work and Pensions suggests that the employment prospects for older workers are primarily affected by the overall labour market conditions and that the tightening of the UK labour market has led to more employers adopting more age friendly HR policies, especially around retention of older workers and flexible working. However, many employers remain unaware of future demographic pressures and it may prove to be important to raise awareness now to encourage employers to respond.
Those employers that are modifying their behaviour appear to be focusing on retention of workers at 60+, while many workers aged 50 to 60 with a lot to offer are still finding themselves leaving work due to a lack of flexibility or other age friendly adjustments, including encouraging managers to invest in training older workers.
Jobcentre Plus research also conducted in the last year shows positive benefits from having a mix of ages in the labour force. Results show that working in a mixed age workforce are viewed as important and beneficial by around two thirds of both older and younger workers, with both groups appreciating and learning from the qualities the other brings to the workplace.
Unsurprisingly younger workers recognise ‘experience’ as a key characteristic in older workers, but also identified ‘reliability’ and ‘understanding’ as valuable. While older workers are impressed by the energy, enthusiasm, flexibility and ability to learn quickly demonstrated by their younger colleagues.
There were differences too, of course. Older workers feel younger workers are less reliable and younger workers don’t see older workers being the source of innovative ideas. But overall both groups identified the mix of ages at work as important, enjoyable and stimulating, with each developing some of the positive characteristics of the other group. For instance younger workers becoming more reliable in the presence of older colleagues and older workers feeling more energetic.
