Comments for over 50s, older workers, retirement & mature marketing

Comment on Media personalities vs. ordinary people by kkennard

kkennard — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:28:36 +0000

This illustrates the increasing tension between employer and employee in a society where a “work-able” (older) sector is increasing in size, but not (yet) in economic clout. It’s a time bomb that we’ve known about for decades, but successive governments of all parties have failed to act.

Comment on Media personalities vs. ordinary people by carykshuhu.blog.com

carykshuhu.blog.com — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:38:06 +0000

Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote
the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that,
this is fantastic blog. An excellent read.
I’ll definitely be back.

Comment on When do apprentices become too old to learn? by State Training Services

State Training Services — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:45:22 +0000

It was interesting in reading the blog. But the best time to do apprenticeship is in your mature age.

Comment on Employers want default retirement age reinstated by kkennard

kkennard — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 17:06:15 +0000

Tony, I agree!

Comment on Employers want default retirement age reinstated by Tony Watts

Tony Watts — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:21:34 +0000

It’s simply untrue that working past retirement age denies jobs to youngsters – but this is still a widely held belief. The Institute for Fiscal Studies says there is: “no evidence of long-term crowding-out of younger individuals from the labour market by older workers”.

What’s more, there are significant benefits to the economy: the DWP says a one-year extension to everyone’s working lives could increase real GDP by around one per cent – and add up to 10 per cent to individuals’ retirement income – significantly reducing pensioner poverty and reliance on benefits longer term.

If people want, need, and are able to work past State Retirement age, they should be enabled to do so by employers offering more flexible working. That can be the bridge to minimise issues such as ill-health absence, enable some to carry out caring duties for partners or grandchildren, and also to enable older workers to mentor younger ones as they gradually assume their responsibilities.

Comment on Older worker stereotypes overturned by Ken MacIntyre

Ken MacIntyre — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:08:24 +0000

Someone should tell Larry Elliott about this. In today’s Guardian he says that while older workers may be more reliable than younger ones, they are slower to take up new ideas and techniques. Try substituting ‘women’ or ‘black people’ for ‘older workers’ and then see what reaction you get.

Comment on Older worker stereotypes overturned by TRCRC

TRCRC — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:37:19 +0000

Good to learn that Academe is catching up with the blindingly obvious.

Comment on Who’s doing what for older workers? by TRCRC

TRCRC — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:34:00 +0000

TRCRC ‘walks the walk’

Comment on Media personalities vs. ordinary people by TRCRC

TRCRC — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:44:04 +0000

“at what age does ageism kick in – ” – kick in ?

Comment on Status quo or retirement – what sort of choice is that? by kkennard

kkennard — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:14:50 +0000

Very balanced and apposite analysis.

Comment on Hiring people like us by TRCRC

TRCRC — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:48:33 +0000

If that is what you believe is expected – the question should be:-

‘Do I really want to throw in my lot with this outfit?’

Nearly six years experience finding ‘elders’ interesting and worthwhile paid things to do, has highlighted the importance of ‘cultural fit’

Comment on Status quo or retirement – what sort of choice is that? by TRCRC

TRCRC — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:02:34 +0000

With nearly six years experience devoted to finding ‘elders’ interesting and worthwhile paid things to do, TRCRC does not share this somewhat pessimistic summary.

The euphemism ‘age discrimination’ is much more complex and covers a number of issues – significant of which, is a largely insecure middlemanagement, now entrusted with much of recruitment.

Comment on Older vs younger workers: to what degree is it irrelevant? by Elaine Alden

Elaine Alden — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 05:19:02 +0000

I’ve done a bit of work on generations and find the book Generations at Work: Managing the clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers and Nexters in your Workplace (2000) by Zemke, Raines and Filipczak one of the more helpful books in this regard – at least in supporting my work on flexible employment for all ages. I presented at BSG last year on just this topic. I guess most positively, the book presents organisations whom have embraced an inter-generational culture and how this approach has tended to benefit the organisation in several ways. First, it talks about the benefits of a multi-generational workforce and how it ensures varied points of view, including the benefits of the maturity and tenured knowledge of the older worker and the creativity and exuberance of the younger workers. It especially higlights organisations who have specifically sought out multi-generational project and work teams to ensure a balance of generational traits. They found that in order for these organisations to be successful with this approach, they needed to ensure cohesive working between these generational groups. Zemke et al found that these organisations needed to ‘aggressively communicate’ to ensure differing views were anticipated, communicated and understood, and to use ‘difference deployment’ to ensure differences were seen as strengths and to ensure that strengths were used effectively and represented equally in work groups. They found that not only did this approach instill a culture of value of workers of all ages (in general and between generations), it also enhanced management practice with the improvement in understanding diversity and the increased focus on effective communication. So a win-win all round.

Comment on Never forget your dreams by Neil Patrick

Neil Patrick — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:42:06 +0000

Thanks for posting this. My view is that there are both similarities and differences. Determination and persistence is key for everyone whatever life goals we are pursuing. As we age though, we have the benefit of many years accumulated experience which is sadly often undervalued by employers. Mature people also often have responsibilities and family obligations which narrow our options when seeking employment. However that maturity and experience opens up possibilities for mature people that are much harder for the young to exploit. I’ve posted quite a few pieces on this topic at 40pluscareerguru.com and on my blog and would welcome any feedback.

Best wishes

Neil Patrick

Comment on Beecroft advocates a return to mandatory retirement to solve crisis of youth unemployment by Pension Rates

Pension Rates — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 23:46:09 +0000

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Comment on NEST (Not Exactly Scintillating Topic) by Pension Advisory

Pension Advisory — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 04:06:56 +0000

As usual, so insightful and practical piece on hmrc pensions office! Thanks.
..

Comment on How to make an older worker an ideal worker by Frank Clarivu

Frank Clarivu — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:08:18 +0000

Looking for work and being over 50 is stressful. I thought all I would have to worry about was my health! Do you have any advice for getting a job as a member of the ageing workforce?

Comment on An absolute must-see for all employers by Joanne Crawford

Joanne Crawford — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 10:41:00 +0000

I think it was a great programme to do and highlights a lot of issues, social, personal, training and re-training and workplace ergonomics. A health professional would have to re-register which would involve training. I was also a bit concerned about health and safety of the construction workers but I thought they would have to have minimal re-training at least to go on site. No suprises about speed of work there either; just wish the chocolate manufacturer had used another measure such as quality. Hopefully it will raise the issues to a wider audience but as Stephen says, it may reinforce a lot of prejudices especially towards the younger workers.

Comment on What becomes of Previously Important Persons? by Stephen McNair

Stephen McNair — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:20:13 +0000

Yes – the research evidence that many/most people approaching retirement would like to work longer in some form shows clearly that sense of purpose, interest and status, and social engagement, are all more important than money – despite what the media like to assume!

Comment on An absolute must-see for all employers by Stephen McNair

Stephen McNair — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:17:23 +0000

There was lots of useful and intersting material in the programme, and after a bad start with strings of stereotypes it became more complex and interesting.
However, the underlying presumption was preposterous. No one is suggesting that extending working life means people returning ten years after retirement to work full time in their old jobs (as was the case with the construction workers and the nurse). Of course there were big knowledge and skills gaps, confidence issues, and in some cases physical capacity ones. No surprise that the one who survived was the one who never wanted to retire in the first place, and who took on an entirely new kind of work.
The “realtity” format makes entertaining television, but may well have reinforced quite a lot of prejudices.