Age as a Diversity Issue in the Workplace

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Age as a Diversity Issue in the Workplace
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Important Dates

• 1903 Colorado no one may discharge because of
  age
• 1958 NY age (18-60) added to statute re
  discrimination in employment
• 1967 Congress ADEA passed (40-65)
• 1989 Congress mandatory retirement (70)
  eliminated
• 1990 Older Workers Benefit Protection Act
• 1996 US Supreme Court dont have to be
  replaced by someone under age
  40
• 2000 State govt agencies protected from being
  sued for money damages

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Growth in US Workforce

• 1970s-1980s 30
• 1980s-1990s 12
• 1990s-2000s 7
• 2000s-2010s 1
• 2010s-2020s 0.2

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Growth in US Workforce by Age2000-2010

• 16-24 15
• 25-34 8
• 35-44 -10
• 45-64 21
• 55-64 52
• 65 30

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Retiring Retirement

• Create a Culture that Honors Experience
• Offer Flexible Work
• Introduce Flexible Retirement

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Honor Experience

• Recruitment techniques
• Interviewing techniques
• Training and development
• Culture

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Flexible Work

• Part-time schedules
• Telecommuting
• Job sharing
• Compressed workweeks
• Redesigned career paths
• Reduced hours

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Flexible Retirement

• On-call cadre of experienced people
• Leaders on demand
• Retiree Casuals
• Resource Re-entry Centre

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Questions

• What differences are there in what attract older
  and younger workers?
• Older workers are one group who might help
  companies keep their workforces at full strength
  what other groups might contribute to this
  effort?
• What attitudes and policies inhibit the
  effectiveness of companies strategies for hiring
  older workers?
• Why might older workers be particularly
  interested in flexible work schedules and
  assignments?
• What advantages do firms obtain by creating
  flexible work schedules and assignments for older
  workers?