Employers can't afford to ax mature workers, say researchers:
In a new article in the Australian Journal of Management, researchers warn employers not to make hasty decisions in either dismissing or discounting the input of older workers.
"Employers are well known for targeting mature workers when downsizing their workforce—but this might be a costly mistake," says Dr. Valerie Caines.
She notes that governments can also overlook the value of older workers, as shown by the SA Government recently pulling its funding to DOME (the Don't Overlook Mature Experience training organization), which provided valuable support services to mature job seekers.
"A common mistake is to think of mature workers as all being the same," says Dr. Caines. "There is huge variation among mature workers' motivations, capabilities and needs. Their experience is especially valuable now, because mature workers can offer considerable value to an organization during a crisis and play an important role in helping a business progress to the 'next normal.'"
Dr. Caines says older workers may also hold the solution for filling employment gaps in organizations, due to diverse skill sets they have developed through their working life.
"Mature adults demonstrate considerable resilience," she says. "The aspect of role modeling resilience is an especially important influence on younger workers. It includes mature coping strategies, emotional intelligence and empathy—and these attributes have never been more important in the workforce."
Journal Reference:
Valerie Dawn Caines et al. Older workers: Past, present and future, Australian Journal of Management (2020). DOI: 10.1177/0312896220918912
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 30 2020, @03:03PM (3 children)
Heh? Apologies, can you remind me when?
(Score: 4, Touché) by DannyB on Tuesday June 30 2020, @04:18PM (2 children)
You don't remember because you are too old.
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 3, Touché) by Rupert Pupnick on Tuesday June 30 2020, @11:41PM (1 child)
I’m NOT old. I’m just chronologically challenged.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 01 2020, @06:30PM
Oh, in that case, we'll have this discussion again yesterday. Just like we had next week.