Maturity in the Work Force

1. Maturity in the Work Force The Silver Collared Worker Presented by Marla Bailey

2. What is a Silver Collared Worker? • Baby Boomers • Offspring of the generation that lived during the Second World War • People born between 1946 and 1964 Picture by BoomerInformation.com

3. Today’s work force is working past retirement age because of financial constraints What’s the big deal? In 2016, the number of individuals 55 or over will increase by 47 percent as compared to the number in 2006 (Franklin) The first wave will turn 63 this year! Lower birth rate of Boomers has seen a shortage of skilled workers

4. Just force them to retire! Age Discrimination in Employment Act (1978) Induce Retirement • Abolished mandatory retirement for most occupations before the age of 70 • “1986 amendment abolished all mandatory retirement at any age, in most occupations” (Turner) • Severance Package • Pension • Health Care • Continued salary for up to or over six months

5. How does this effect businesses? • Increase in insurance use • Higher use of employer-sponsored health insurance until Medicare can start at age 65. (Franklin) • Medical ailments (McGuire) • Cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration can start around age 50 • Type II Diabetes • Early signs of heart disease • Hearing lose can start at age 35 • Dentures or other major dental procedures

6. What physical factors affect baby boomers? • Loss of hearing starts around age 35 What can the employer do to help? • Design the workplace • Avoid room designs that echo • Use lights and sounds for indicator warnings • Use brighter colors on safety signs • Encourage regular hearing exams

7. What about desk jobs and boomers? Photo Courtesy of EHS Today • Vision Problems usually begin after age 40 • Computer Monitors can pose a problem • Some proactive measures might include • Indirect lighting • Glare-reducing screens • Take frequent breaks • Be aware of posture when wearing bifocals Torres

8. Is there more physical factors? • After age 60, night time sight is reduced • Employer options for commuting to work might include • Flexible working hours for the winter months • Work from home • Part-time hours

9. Control mechanisms – lever controls are better “twice the amount of torque can be exerted using levers versus knobs.” (McGuire) Strength also decreases with age Muscle mass and hand strength decreases in individuals over the age of 50 (McGuire)

10. “Falls account for 20 percent of the fatalities for individuals over the age of 55.” (McGuire) Accidentshappen “Loss of control of postural stability (often beginning after age 50) (McGuire) A one-half inch change in walking surface is a potential tripping hazard. (McGuire)

11. Adapt the workplace Minor Adjustments Automated Equipment • Use larger video displays • Increase font size on computer screens • De-clutter the work area • Illuminate work areas • Install slip resistant flooring • Contrast stair edges (McGuire) • Pick-to-light systems • Voice-directed picking systems • Ergonomic lifting devices (Kator)

12. Employee’s Plan for the shift • Boomers are dialing down the pace of working (Franklin) • Take a leave of absence or Sabbatical • Transition with part-time employment • “Vocation Vacation” • For a fee, test drive your dream job (Franklin) • Some recently certified age friendly companies according to RetirementJobs.com • H & R Block • Travelers • The Fresh Market • Staples • Wells Fargo

13. What can the employer do? • Offer part-time/Flextime work with benefits (Turner) • Health insurance is a major cause for continuing to work past retirement age • Realize that older workers are motivated differently than their younger associates (Calo) • They have a highly developed work ethic • They can provide experience • They have institutional memory (McGuire) Picture by Job Journal

14. Employer’s Plan for the Shift Flextime with benefits Insurance • “Find creative means for retaining older workers” (Calo) • Part-time • Flextime • Mentoring • Find ways to reduce the cost of health benefits • Annual eye exams • Blood pressure and diabetes screening • Schedule learning sessions with health care professionals (McGuire)

15. Knowledge transfer is critical • Mentoring • Builds close personal relationships • Creates a positive organizational culture (Calo) • Use the institutional memory that comes with experience (McGuire) • Pass along history of projects and products • Review concepts that were tried and failed • Use this knowledge and wisdom With age brings wisdom Listen to Experience Picture by Career Builder

16. Works Cited Calo, Thomas J. “Talent Management in the Era of the Aging Workforce: The Critical Role of Knowledge Transfer.” Public Personnel Management 37.4 (2008): 403-416. Business Source Premier. EBSCO. 23 Feb. 2009 <http://search.ebscohost.com/‌login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=35001278&site=bsi-live>. Franklin, Mary Beth, and Robert Frick. “Retire to Your Dream Job.” Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Apr. 2008: 27-35. Kator, Corinne. “Automation Aids Aging Workforce.” Modern Materials Handling 62.12 (2007): 12-14. Business Source Premier. EBSCO. Polk County Public Lib., Columbus, NC. 22 Mar. 2009 <http://search.ebscohost.com/‌login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=29340278&site=bsi-live>. McGuire, Catherine. “Adapting Your Workplace for an Aging Workforce.” Safety Compliance Letter 2496 (2008): 1-4. Business Source Premier. EBSCO. 23 Feb. 2009 <http://search.ebscohost.com/‌login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=35423309&site=ehost-live>. Retirement Jobs - Jobs for People Over 50. 2009. 19 Apr. 2009 <http://www.retirementjobs.com/‌index.html>. Torres, Katherine. “Don’t Lose Sight of the Older Work Force.” Occupational Hazards 70.6 (2008): 55-59. Business Source Premier. EBSCO. 19 Apr. 2009 <http://search.ebscohost.com/‌login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=32599836&site=bsi-live>. Turner, John A. “Work Options for Older Americans: Employee Benefits for the Era of Living Longer.” Benefits Quarterly 24.3 (2008): 20-25. Business Source Premier. EBSCO. 19 Apr. 2009 <http://search.ebscohost.com/‌login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=32731076&site=ehost-live>. Music is Magic Flower on Legend series: Timeless (2002)