Happy Labour Day: Looking after our elderly workers

Happy Labour Day: Looking after our elderly workers

As life expectancy is more likely to increase, many employers will have their fair share of older workers.

Employers may need to improve their attitudes about older workers.

And leverage on their roles, competence, and contributions improve their organizations and results.

Theoretical and empirical research by Professor Michael S. Sturman refutes belief that age affects job performance. It also affirms values of longer work experience.

Surveys of employers elsewhere by Todd J. Maurer, Kimberly A. Wrenn, and Elizabeth M. Weiss show that they admire older workers for their loyalty, experience, and dependability.

On the other hand, it also indicate that employers do have concerns about those workers, including obsolescent skills, lack of creativity, and resistance to change.

To overcome these potential downsides, employers can demonstrate more care and concern for older workers, and engage them in collaborative learning and improvement.

By deepening elderly workers’ commitment and support, they can unleash their creative and innovative potentials.

By doing that, those workers can more than justify their wages and other rewards.

We should take a leaf from Finland.

According to Professor Anne-Marie Guillemard, “Finland encouraged increased training of ageing workers and changes to the work environment to adapt to their needs – both of which make older employees more efficient and motivated.”

The number of Finns aged between 55 to 64 in the workforce increased from 42% in 2000 to 56% in 2009.

Professor Guillemard further added:

“That activist labour policy has been embraced by many companies where older Finnish workers are now actively valued for the experience they have.”

The Singapore government can offer targeted incentives to motivate employers to groom older workers and enrich their job scopes, including developing flexitime and flexi-place arrangements.

Subsidies can be provided to employers to develop an older workers-friendly environment and organise health and wellness programmes for them.

It will not only strengthen their productive life but also enhance their performance and contributions.

Together, we can do more to improve their attitudes, knowledge and skills so as to enhance their employment prospects and employability.

And help them enjoy greater pride, dignity and fulfillment in their sunset years.

Go4It!

I hope this message will find a place in your heart.

By the way, I have also recorded other reflections.

Please ‘Like’ me on https://m.facebook.com/patrickliewsg

Please visit my website, http://www.patrickliew.net

Follow me on:
https://www.quora.com/profile/Patrick-Liew-5

Visit my Inspiration blog at https://liewinspiration.wordpress.com/

For my opinions on social affairs,
please visit my Transformation blog at http://hsrpatrickliew.wordpress.com/

Let’s connect on instagram.com/patrickliewsg
– via @patrickliewsg

https: //twitter.com/patrickliew77
– via @patrickliew77

My LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/in/liewpatrick

My Quora https://www.quora.com/profile/Patrick-Liew-5?share=24abf3c1&srid=uL2Gz

Please read my reflections and continue to teach me.

Life is FUNtastic!