Baby Boomer Development

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Baby Boomer Development

• By Elesha Carbaugh Alexander Gonzalez

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Challenges Baby Boomers Face

• Lack of opportunity for advancement
• Feeling underutilized
• Being stuck in jobs they have already mastered

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Why do you think this happens?
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The Wall Street Journal Says

• Many companies are reluctant to advance older
  professionals when they can recruit someone
  younger.
• Some possible reasons for this
• STEREOTYPES
• The belief that older professionals may require
  higher pay.
• The belief that younger professionals are more
  technologically literate and easier to train.
• The belief that older professionals will retire
  soon.

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Misperceptions vs. Realities

• 1. Misperception Older professionals (50) no
  longer want to work.
• Reality Many older professionals want to work
  for personal, psychological, and financial gain.
• Misperception Older professionals tend to retire
  shortly after being trained therefore employers
  should not invest in them.
• Reality The turnover rate is higher in younger
  workers than older.

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Advantages baby boomers can offer

• Can be more flexible as they may not have the
  responsibility of caring for young children.
• They can increase the workforces intellectual
  property by sharing their professional experience.

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What do you think are some solutions to this
problem?
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Our Solutions

• Working against common stereotypes that may
  prevent older professionals from advancement.
• Including older professionals in development
  opportunities.
• Utilizing older professionals experience in new
  areas.

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Solutions from the textbook

• Temporary Assignments
• Projects
• Volunteer Work
• Job Rotation

• Job Enlargement
• Transfers
• Promotions
• Mentoring

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General Electrics Strategy

• Recruits baby boomers for international
  assignments.
• Uses baby boomers experience to assist in
  integrating newly acquired businesses.
• Attempt to connect baby boomers who desire job
  change with new openings.
• Its part of the DNA here to keep adding things
  to peoples plates and making sure they have new
  opportunities. Susan Peters, vice president,
  executive development

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Phillips-Van Heusens Strategy

• Plans to use recent acquisitions of companies,
  such as Calvin Klein, to provide new
  opportunities to baby boomers.
• It has always been exciting, and part of my job
  now is to create new mountains for others to
  climb. Mark Weber, president and chief
  operating officer

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Individual Recommendations

• Outline what you would like to do.
• Become an ally to your boss.
• Seek outlets for your talents.
• Try to utilize aspects of your personality that
  have not yet
• been put to use.

Midlife is a time when parts of the self that
have been neglected begin to bubble up. Bean
counters may suddenly need to do more creative
work, while people who have been adventurous may
need more stability. Ms. Hollander, career
coach
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Sources

• Bell, M. (2007). Diversity In Organizations.
  Mason, OH Thompson South-Western.
• Hymowitz, C. (2003).Baby Boomers Seek New Ways to
  Escape Career Claustrophobia. The Wall Street
  Journal. B1.
• Noe, R. A.(2008). Employee Training
  Development. New York, NY The McGraw-Hill
  Companies, Inc.