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Now that 65- to 69-year-olds are able to work as much as theywant without losing their Social Security benefits, expect to seemore seniors in the labor market. What do you need to know abouttraining and integrating seniors into your organization? Thefollowing tips will help you gain the maximum benefit from olderworkers on your team:
Get rid of yourstereotypes. Don't write off older people as senile,stubborn and set in their ways. "Older workers may actually'get it' faster than other workers," says SusanGebelein, executive vice president with Personnel DecisionsInternational, a Minneapolis management consulting firm.
Don't teach them whatthey already know. Though many seniors, particularlywomen, are just now entering the workplace, the majority have yearsof experience. "They have a lot of the basic job skills. Youdon't need to teach them those things," says Gebelein.
Give them time tolearn. A report prepared for the U.S. Department ofLabor by the National Senior Citizens Education and Research Center(NSCERC) notes that older people need more time, often up to twiceas long, to learn new tasks and skills, but with that additionaltime, they can learn to perform new tasks with fewer mistakes thanyounger workers. If possible, implement a self-paced program.
Create an effective learningenvironment. Senses, particularly sight and hearing,tend to dim with age. The NSCERC report suggests you make sure yourtraining facility has adequate lighting and good acoustics, andthat you keep background noise to a minimum. Visual aids shouldhave large, easy-to-read print with high contrast colors and shouldnot be posted above eye level because many older people wearbifocals and have difficulty looking up to read. Most older workersprefer sitting around a table rather than in a traditionalclassroom or theater-style setting. And be sure to provide frequentbreaks for using restrooms or just moving around.
Don't assume seniorswill resist change and technology. Increasing numbers ofseniors have PCs at home and are comfortable using the Internet.Also, many older workers appear inflexible when in fact they arelacking in confidence and, with training, will quickly become moreadaptable and accepting of new technology.
For assistance with training seniors or to find seniors who havecompleted various educational programs, contact your local agencyon aging, your public school system's adult educationdepartment or local senior citizen centers.
Jacquelyn Lynn left the corporate world more than 14 yearsago and has been writing about business and management from herhome office in Winter Park, Florida, ever since.
Contact Source
- National Senior Citizens Education and Research Center,(301) 578-8800, www.nscerc.org
