Whitespace: Here comes the grey army

Issue 62: June 2010

• Workers in their 80s & 90s soon to be the norm
• Studies confirm older workers bring wisdom
• Ultra-flexible workplaces best suit grey workers

By the year 2050 one in four Australians will be over 65, and there will be double the amount of 80-plus Australians in the workforce than there are now. Governments across the globe are gearing up for an aging population, but is their concern shared – or even recognised – by the private sector?

During a recent visit to Australia, World Health Organisation life cycle expert John Beard stressed the need for organisations need to recognise an impending shortage of younger workers and start planning for the aging population boom.

But in many ways achieving these goals is easier said than done, largely because of perceptual barriers. Current attitudes towards the aging aren't particularly gracious with many seeing older Australians as burden on resources or workplace productivity issue.

This month's Whitespace suggests that now is the time to reconsider the place of older Australians in the workplace, to view the aging population not as a problem but as an opportunity to build a robust, highly engaged and knowledge-rich workforce.

Wisdom at work

The concept of being more accepting of 70-plus or even 80-plus workers isn't just framed by a feel good factor or last resort premise, a growing body of research suggests older workers often have more to offer than they are given credit for.

A recent British study by the Royal College of Psychiatrists suggests age really does translate into wisdom. More specifically, researchers found long-term memory is not affected by age and that a person's vocabulary, emotional intelligence and social skills may get better as they grow older.

Another research project carried out by the University of California confirmed that older people often display slower reaction times than younger people, however it's suggested this is an advantage as grey decision makers are less likely to be impulsive or allow their judgement to be ruled by emotion.

Powerful stuff. But it's not just a matter of transplanting these potential oracles into a workplace and expecting them to thrive. In the multigenerational workforce there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Flexibility is the key

Futurist Sheila Moorcroft points out that flexibility is the key to accommodating older employees, with many choosing to complete work duties from home offices rather than traditional workplaces. This virtual work life will be achieved thanks to every gran or pop's new best friend – mobile digital technologies.

"ICTs, augmented reality, virtual reality, embedded intelligence, mobile/always-on connectivity are enabling fundamentally new ways of working, learning and training, caring and supporting people in the community.

"They will provide opportunities to enhance older people's employability, reduce work pressures, improve and extend care options – among other things," Moorcroft notes in a recent blog post.

All this doesn't just call for employers to be more open to the idea of a virtual or mobile workforce, but also to offer the training required to ensure new technologies are used efficiently by all generations.

Are the aged agreeable?

A burning issue that certainly warrants discussion is the question of whether older Australians will want to stay at work as opposed to transforming into carefree grey nomads.

Well it might sound odd to younger professionals who daydream of extended holidays but many older workers aren't in a hurry to completely jettison their working lives.

According to a study by UK insurer Prudential more than half of those planning to retire this year would be willing to work on. The researchers found 25 per cent would be happy to work a further five years, and seven per cent were willing to continue working for another 10 years on the proviso they would receive a higher income when they do retire.

Embracing the grey

Is the world ready for 100-year-old workers?

The World Health Organisation claims it's a possibility. And one that could see ultra flexible arrangements such as extended periods of grandparental leave, virtual workplaces or full-time work for only a few months a year come into play.

These are just a few possibilities, but with a skills shortage on the horizon what doesn't appear to be an option is the need for the Western world to let go of its ageist attitudes and to embrace the concept of a 'graduates to greys' workplace as well as the culture needed to achieve it.

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