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Although they tend to be older than most of their colleagues, 61 percent of boomers say their age isn't an issue at work, and 25 percent consider it an advantage.
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The first group of baby boomers turn 65 this year, and a new poll by the Associated Press and LifeGoesStrong.com reveals that baby boomers in the workplace aren't just surviving -- they're thriving. According to an online poll of 1,160 workers born between 1946 and 1964, 61 percent said their age isn't an issue at work, while 25 percent called it an asset. That's despite data which shows nearly half of all baby boomers now work for a younger boss, and a majority report being older than most of their colleagues, the AP reports. Only 14 percent of poll respondents considered getting older to be a workplace liability.
For those who are over 50 in the workplace, most said co-workers seek their counsel more now than when they were younger, and a third of them said their employer treats them with greater respect. Additionally, 75 percent said they were satisfied with their relationship with their co-workers. Only 18 percent of poll respondents said they had experienced age discrimination in the workplace, with that number rising to 24 percent among unmarried women. When asked about specific forms of age discrimination, 15 percent of workers 50 and older reported being passed over for a raise, promotion or certain project assignments. However, two-thirds of respondents said they haven't had a problem keeping up with developments in their field and adapting to new technology. The poll also found that one in five boomers have been in their current field for less than a decade.
When it comes to retirement plans, two-thirds of boomers said they plan to work at least part time past retirement age for financial reasons, either due to necessity or because they want the extra spending money. Another 29 percent said they'll keep working just to stay busy, according to the poll results.
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
My experience as an employer is the boomers work harder, complain less, and generally have a much better work ethic than any other age group that I have hired.
I have been looking for 2.5 years. Age is not an advantage, younger workers work for wages I was earning 15 years ago.
Age is not an asset in the work place. The manager on my job said he was getting rid of everybody over 36 and he did after hiring in a bunch of college students.
Ageism is alive and well in America. You lose your job and want to work after you hit 50 you'd better open up your own business.
It depends on the type of business... I was let go along with many others across the country in the middle of 08 because of age.... However, I bounded back and opened my own buisness in doing the same thing. Seems the clients appreciated my wisdom and maturity where my former employer didn't get it... Oh well their loss is my gain....
Okay all of you employers who are smart enough to realize the advantages of older workers step up and start hiring. So far as I can see employers want to get rid of older workers because of pay and don't have a clue what they are losing. Look at Ted's post for a little clue. Add to that all the experience and knowledge they have and you might see some advantage to older workers. You get what you pay for is my motto.
How many boomers spend their work day texting and playing on cell phones?
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm a career consultant with a private practice in NYC and 17 years of experience for the world's largest outplacement firm. There are two things you must remember about the job market:
1) Please don't expect a potential employers, or even a current employer for whom you've worked for years, to realize how much advantage your age and years of experience bring to them. They need to have you illustrate it for them, and prove it to them. Does the question "what have you done for me lately?" mean anything to you? Employers need to be reminded, early and often, that you're constributing significantly to their success, which means that you'd be better be producing! Or, in the case of potential employers, demonstrating how you produced and contributed to the success of your previous employers. They're not hiring you because you're a good person...they're hiring you because you can help their bottom line. The more you can demonstrate value, the more likely they are to want you working for them. Period.
2) Please understand that we're still in a recession, regardless of what the economists say. The national unemployment rate rose from 8.8% to 9% in April. And it's not just employees, currently working or between jobs, who are feeling the pinch, it's employers, too. Their businesses are earning less because people like you have less to spend. It's vicious cycle. Which means they have less money with which to pay their staff. Salaries are down an estimated 30% over what they were prior to September 2008, when the crash occurred. So please don't even THINK that you're going to be able to command what you did prior to September '08, regardless of how old you are or you years of experience. And why do you think that some companies are getting rid of Boomers and hiring recent grads? Because they think their quality of work will be better, or that they know more? No! It's because they'll accept lower salaries.
Again...if you can demonstrate the tremendous value of your years of experience, maturity and industry expertise, and also realize that a job that pays 30% less than you were earning at the height of the economy is still 70% better than no job at all, you'll get hired...and be a welcome and respected part of your company.