Age as a Diversity
Issue in the Workplace
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: don’t have to be replaced by someone
under age 40
2000 State gov’t agencies protected from being sued for money
damages
Growth in US Workforce
1970s-1980s 30%
1980s-1990s 12%
1990s-2000s
7%
2000s-2010s
1%
2010s-2020s
0.2%
Growth in US Workforce by Age
2000-2010
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-64
55-64
65+
15%
8%
-10%
21%
52%
30%
Retiring Retirement
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Create a Culture that Honors Experience
Offer Flexible Work
Introduce Flexible Retirement
Honor Experience
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Recruitment techniques
Interviewing techniques
Training and development
Culture
Flexible Work
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Part-time schedules
Telecommuting
Job sharing
Compressed workweeks
Redesigned career paths
Reduced hours
Flexible Retirement
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On-call cadre of experienced people
Leaders on demand
Retiree Casuals
Resource Re-entry Centre
Questions
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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?