Editor’s picks
Latest news from around the world on mature workers for September 2019.
‘Not easy to get a job past 40’: How ageism at agencies affects older employees
Chris Thilk is 44 years old. It’s been three years since he was let go from full-time agency work, and he has yet to find another full-time gig. That’s not for lack of trying, as he has applied to hundreds of jobs over the years. With 15 years of experience in the business, Thilk believes his age and experience level are hurting, rather than helping him in his quest for a new job. – Digiday, 27 September 2019
‘Keep doctors working until they’re 70’: Struggling Italian hospitals tell government
Regional health authorities are calling on Italy’s government to allow them to recruit retired doctors and keep those older than 65 working until they’re 70, as a means of tackling their serious shortages of medical practitioners. – The Local, 27 September 2019
The Case for Hiring Older Workers
There’s a lot of talk about gender bias, racial bias, and culture bias at work, and each are important for many reasons. But perhaps one of the biggest and most problematic types of bias we face is the bias of age: we often evaluate people based on their age, and this is now becoming a major challenge in the workplace. – Harvard Business Review, 26 September 2019
Indians love to respect their elders—unless they’re in the workplace
In his first job at a newspaper, my Mumbai-based colleague Harish Chander, had to report to an editor some 20 years his senior. The boss insisted on being called by his first name, though the rookie simply couldn’t resist suffixing a “sir.”
In the modern and rapidly evolving Indian workplace, though, using such honorifics for senior colleagues may seem anachronistic—perhaps even hypocritical. Particularly when older workers increasingly face subtle, and often not-so-subtle, age discrimination. – Quartz India, 26 September 2019
The Poignant New Song About Age Discrimination by Employers
You probably wouldn’t think the topic of age discrimination by employers would make much of a song. Well, sit back, relax and watch the poignant video of “Dear Sir/Madam” from Australian singer/songwriter Kelea. Get some tissues first. – Next Avenue, 26 September 2019
The Surprising Ways Management Styles Vary by Age
A new study suggests what older and younger managers can learn from each other. A recent MIT Sloan Management Review study of managers was an eye-opener, analyzing how managers across the age spectrum prefer to lead.
The five researchers — of disparate ages — surveyed 10,000 managers between ages 21 and 70 working in multiple industries and in 20 countries. What they found was that older and younger managers have very different views about how to lead others. “Management style varied more with age than with any other characteristic in our survey,” the authors wrote. – Next Avenue, 24 September 2019
Job ads on Facebook discriminated against women and older workers, EEOC says
A US landmark judgment centres around Facebook’s advertising model. Businesses have been posting job ads on Facebook that illegally discriminate against women and elderly workers. – Vox, 25 September 2019
Who Will You Be in Retirement? – David Ekerdt
Podcast (Duration: 36:45 — 33.6MB)
An interview with Dr. David Ekerdt, University of Kansas professor and President of the Gerontological Society of America. He shares his observations and findings from his research on what influences our views of retirement, how people should embrace different lifestyles in retirement – and how preparing for downsizing ahead of retirement can make you more nimble. – Retirement Wisdom
New data supports raising SG to 12 per cent
Australians overwhelmingly want the superannuation guarantee (SG) lifted to 12 per cent, according to polling carried out exclusively for the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees. Just 10 per cent of respondents said they somewhat or strongly disagree with raising the SG. – Investment Magazine, 25 September 2019
The Ageing and Automation Resilience Index
Compiled by Mercer and Marsh & McLennan Insights, the report analyses mitigating factors a country has in place to combat ageing and job automation among older workers, measuring older worker labor force participation, level of pension fund assets, socio-economic conditions, and policy and legal conditions, as well as the strength of the local retirement system. – Mercer
Older Australians are among the best placed to cope with technological change
Older Australian workers rank second behind their Danish counterparts when it comes to having the resilience to deal with technological change and ageing, according to a new report. The report found that older Australian workers were well placed for their later years relative to similar cohorts overseas because of a confluence of factors. These include the structure of the economy, the superannuation system and a high standard of education and training. – The New Daily, 23 September 2019
Most of the UK’s employment growth over the last year was fuelled by the over-50s, new research suggests
Of the 369,000 extra workers in the year to July, 303,000 – or 82 per cent – were over the age of 50, according to Rest Less, a jobs and advice site for that age group. The analysis was based on the latest data from the Office of National Statistics’ Labour Force Survey. – The Scotsman, 23 September 2019
Asia-Pacific can pay more heed to labour market issues: Report
Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are not placing enough emphasis on labour market issues as they prepare for the impact of ground-breaking trends on work in the future, according to the International Labour Organisation. – The Straits Times, 23 September 2019
Work Advice: How do I respond to younger colleagues who make snarky comments about my age?
Reader: I am an older woman working in a field among predominantly younger workers and would love insight on how to deal with frequent references to my age. I love what I do and have much to contribute, but the comments are starting to wear on me. – The Washington Post, 20 September 2019
Five myths about aging
The causes of aging, and the therapies that might alleviate its effects, are increasingly at the forefront of public interest and intrigue. Here are myths about aging that persist. – The Washington Post, 20 September 2019
Study reveals countries most and least resilient to aging and automation threats
Of 20 major global economies, Asian countries are among the least prepared to combat the threats of societal aging and workplace automation (Australia ranks second as most-prepared), according to a new study from Mercer and Marsh & McLennan Insights. – People Matters, 20 September 2019
Google Is Once Again Accused Of Age Discrimination
In late July, it was reported that Google settled a class-action, age discrimination lawsuit. In the terms of the settlement, about 200 job seekers over the age of 40, who applied for positions at Google, would receive a settlement of $11 million. Now, almost two months later, a legal complaint was filed by plaintiff Rodney Broome in Santa Clara County Superior Court, accusing Google of age discrimination and harassment. – Forbes, 19 September 2019
China’s workforce saving more for retirement amid concerns about state pension, survey finds
Half of Chinese have begun saving for retirement, up from 46 per cent in 2018, survey from Fidelity International and Ant Financial shows. Results come amid growing concern in China about the financial stability of the state pension fund due to the country’s ageing population. – South China Morning Post, 20 September 2019
Understanding the needs of menopausal women is “vital” for employers
With an increasingly open conversation about the menopause in the UK, many more British employers are keen to offer the right support for women in the workplace. – The Scotsman, 19 September 2019
Thailand has among the highest risks of automation to its older workers globally
To examine the risk automation poses to older workers around the world, Mercer measured the extent to which older workers are employed in low- and medium- skilled work across a sample of countries, in its latest whitepaper, The Aging and Automation Resilience Index. Older Thai workers are doing jobs that are on average 69% automatable. – Human Resources Online, 19 September 2019
Aware study: Family caregivers lose 63% of income, need more help
She had put her life and career on hold to care for her 86-year-old mother, who has dementia. But she soon found she could not afford it, and they have had to tap into her mother’s savings. – The Newspaper (Singapore), 19 September 2019
More support needed for caregivers of elderly family members: Aware
SINGAPORE – Employees should have the right to request flexible work arrangements and be entitled to six days of paid eldercare leave, said the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware). These changes will help to support workers caring for older relatives and ensure that their own retirement nest eggs are not compromised by caregiving, the advocacy group said. – The Straits Times, 19 September 2019
Many not yet ready to retire
As Maltese society, like many Western ones, ages, structural changes in lifestyle become inevitable. As the baby boomer generation enters the retirement stage in life, many are asking whether the traditional retirement lifestyle is still appropriate for healthy older adults who still have what it takes to remain productive in the workforce. – Times of Malta, 19 September 2019
Sri Lanka can increase GDP by bridging gender gap
Sri Lanka could raise its GDP as much as 20% by closing the gender gap in its workforce… “The country also has the highest ageing population, which means the annual expansion of the workforce is slow and not conducive to extremely labour intensive efforts.” – Daily News, 17 September, 2019
‘There’s a war for people’: strong jobs market belies a shortage of skilled workers
An ageing population has left 83% of businesses fighting to find workers with the right skills, a problem that is slated to worsen. The Guardian (US Edition), 16 September 2019
Combat Age Discrimination At Work: For Employees And Employers
Age discrimination impacts employers and business owners alike. If you are an older member of the workforce, you may experience different treatment than when you were in your 20s, 30s, and 40s. You may be asked if you have email (of course you do). You may have coworkers who have spoken more slowly or louder to you than other (younger) employees. – Forbes, 15 September 2019
82 year-old’s bullying case against Victoria Legal Aid
An 82 year old woman has accused Victoria Legal Aid of age discrimination, claiming she was she was bullied and harassed out of the job, and alleged her manager asked her if she thought she was “too old to be working”. – Herald Sun, 15 September 2019 (possible paywall)
Ballarat’s ageing workforce faces real challenges: what are your options into the future?
By 2021 – in just two years – only 50 per cent of Australians are going to be working, says COTA’s Tina Hogarth-Clarke. The CEO of what was once known as the Council on the Ageing says systematic and entrenched age discrimination will be a rising hurdle for older workers, who will be essential for their individual and collective experience. – The Courier, 15 September 2019
PSC to hire interns to replace ageing staff (Kenya)
Internship programme in the public service holds key to solving the incessant ageing workforce puzzle as well as correcting the glaring ethnic imbalance, Commission chairman Stephen Kirogo holds. This comes in the wake of consistent reports pointing to a country struggling with elderly workers, with a vast majority being over 50 years, and no fresh blood with the skills to replace them. In addition, five out of the 44 tribes are overrepresented. – Daily Nation (Kenya), 15 September 2019
Unemployment rate for over 50s now equal to that of younger workers
Ageism in the workplace may be becoming a prejudice of the past, according to official statistics that show the unemployment rate for younger people is now the same as it is for the older workforce. – The Guardian, 13 September 2019
Which Gender Is Most Impacted By Age Discrimination? It Depends On Who You Ask
The recent Hiscox Ageism in the Workplace Study declared that “more men than women feel that their advancing age has adversely impacted their careers.” At least one media outlet published this result without question. Hiscox accurately reported the results of its survey but its findings are contrary to a considerable body of research showing that women are more adversely affected by age discrimination in employment. How can that be? – Forbes, 13 September 2019
Successful Aging: What does the job market look like for older Americans?
Q. I understand the employment rate for those in my age bracket – the 55 and older — is just 2.7 percent compared to 3.7 percent for the overall population. That sounds like good news. Does that mean I should have a good chance of finding a job at age 62? I was previously a manager in the foodservice industry. – Los Angeles Daily News, 12 September 2019
Oxford professor claims he should not be forced to retire because his research is ‘blossoming’
An Oxford professor has claimed that his university should not have forced him to retire because his research is only just “blossoming”. … He is the latest academic to challenge the university’s Employer Justified Retirement Age (EJRA) policy, which was introduced in 2017 to ensure that older professors retire and make way for a new generation of younger and more ethnically diverse scholars. – The Telegraph (UK), 11 September 2019
Retiring in Japan: Seniors greatly outnumber younger workers — and that’s a big problem for everyone
Japan has one of the highest old-age dependency ratios but not one of the highest retirement income replacement ratios. That could spell trouble for its citizens, now and in the future. – Market Watch, 11 September, 2019
Could there be unintended consequences to putting off retirement?
Mandatory retirement policies are mostly illegal in the US, but their disappearance has become a point of concern for those worried about future generations. – HR Dive, 10 September 2019
Why Older Uber Drivers Earn Less Than Younger Ones
Gig platforms can be fairly easy for many older workers to join. But research shows that on certain apps, they’re earning less than younger workers. – 89.3 KPCC News (audio), 10 September 2019
EEOC Sues KU Medical Center for Firing Whistleblower Who Exposed Age Discrimination
The University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) violated federal law when it discharged a manager who alerted officials that his department head instructed staff to give hiring preference to millennials over older applicants, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit today. – JD Supra, 9 September 2019
Over 50 and Freelancing to Fill the Gaps in Retirement Funds
In 2006, after 41 years of teaching business management, Charlotte Bishop decided to retire from her job at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. She was in her early 60s, had raised two sons as a single mother in the Bronx and wanted to spend more time with her grandchildren. Just a few months later, however, she realized she had to get back to work. – The New York Times, 12 September 2019
The challenges of an ageing population
For the first time in human history, the world is facing an ever-growing ageing population, and we’re ill-prepared to handle it. But how do we increase social inclusion and the quality of life of the current and future older population? Monash University experts explore and discuss the challenges. Monash University, 12 September 2019
Ageism at Work Starts Earlier Than You Think
We were somewhat surprised when our research revealed that men and women experience ageism in comparable ways and at similar rates and ages. But they differ in the ways they combat it. – Fast Company, 10 September 2019
Retirement can be boring but working keeps you stimulated, say older workers
After working for two years in his substantial Gold Coast garden, Lawrence Waterman realised he found retirement extremely dull. For decades he had worked in logistics and for transport companies, and as an active 72-year-old felt it would be a shame not to put his years of experience to good use. – ABC News, 9 September 2019
Best Ways Older Workers Can Prepare for a Recession
Here’s why this matters so much to older workers: In the last recession, it took much longer for unemployed people over 50 to get hired, on average, than for younger people without jobs. What’s more, the older ones were also more likely to become part of the long-term unemployed – out of work for six months or longer. And when they finally landed a job, their wages were typically much lower than in their previous one and below the level of their reemployed younger peers. – Next Avenue, 9 September 2019
Labor targets Coalition over growing amount of older Aussies on dole
Labor will sharpen its attacks on the Morrison government over the growing number of older Australians out of full-time work, seizing on a 45 per cent increase in people over 55 years of age who are claiming unemployment benefits. – Sydney Morning Herald, 8 September 2019
Helping workers plan for the future will help employers retain skilled staff
Our research shows that workers in later life want work that they find personally meaningful, intellectually stimulating and sociable. They want jobs that are flexible and come with opportunities for learning, mentoring and career progression – and they want workplaces that are supportive and inclusive. – CIPD Policy at Work Blog, 7 September 2019
Two professors sue University in response to tenure rejection
After a 67-year-old senior lecturer in Judaic Studies and adjunct professor in History was denied tenure, she and her husband filed a lawsuit against Brown University for age discrimination and other complaints in April 2019. The 2017 rejection opposed the recommendation of both the Tenure, Promotions and Appointments Committee and the Provost Richard. – Brown Daily Herald, 6 September 2019
How Working in Retirement Became a Reality
The gap has narrowed between planning to work in retirement and doing so. For years, many workers nearing retirement have professed plans to work part-time during retirement. But few retirees have actually continued working part-time. Things are changing. – Next Avenue, 6 September 2019
Is HR doing enough for older workers?
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower shares employers’ progress on ‘age-friendly’ practices. – Human Resources Director Asia, 6 September 2019
Older Women’s Health in the Workplace
With a growing number of women in the workforce, and the age-profile of the UK’s employees shifting, older women’s health in the workplace is becoming an increasingly important issue for employers. Demographic changes in the labour market and policy reforms suggest older women’s health in the workplace is going to continue to remain an important healthy workplace topic for employers, government and policymakers – and yet it’s still a vastly overlooked issue. – Centre for Ageing Better, London, 5 September 2019
“Astonishing Statistic” In New Workhuman Employee Survey, What Is Driving Discrimination
Today the Workhuman Analytics & Research Institute released its 2019 International Employee Survey Report on factors contributing to job satisfaction, flight risk and emotional engagement. … While many of the responses were consistent with trending, one new finding is profound. The survey reports that one in four workers (26%) have felt discriminated against over the course of their career. When asked the main reason for feelings of discrimination, more than half (52%) cited age. – Forbes, 4 September 2019
The insidious effects of ageism in the workplace
Ageism affects more than just the workers who face discrimination. So why is there so little training on age-related bias? – Fast Company, 3 September 2019
Is Working Longer The Solution To The Retirement Crisis?
The advice to work longer is not a real solution in the presence of widespread age discrimination, unpredictable life shocks and involuntary retirement—getting laid off or pushed out of a job before one is ready to retire. – Forbes, 3 September 2019
HR minister to review Malaysia’s retirement age
The Malaysian government is reviewing a proposal to increase the retirement age from 60 to 65, said its Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran. The Malaysian Trade Unions Congress’s (MTUC) proposal to raise the age aims to allow low-wage and older workers to build up their retirement savings. – Human Resources Director Asia, 3 September 2019
Should executives over 60 be appointed CEO?
How old is too old to be a company boss? For one veteran of Australia’s boardrooms – Kevin Seymour, 79 – companies in general should avoid appointing chief executives and chairmen aged over 60. – Australian Financial Review, 3 September 2019
People are working longer for reasons of choice and necessity
Across the developed world, the workforce now comes in fifty shades of grey. Since 2008 the average labour-force participation rate of 55- to 64-year-olds in OECD countries has risen by eight percentage points. Depending on your point of view, that trend can be spun as ruthless capitalism requiring workers to spend more years down the salt mines or as a sign that society that is finally recognising the value of its older employees. – The Economist, 2 September 2019
Re-employment protects older workers but leaves some with bitter taste in their mouths
Despite the negative experiences of some older workers, experts and observers believe that the re-employment and retirement ages are here to stay, and they serve as important safeguards – even though they are not foolproof. – Channel News Asia, 2 September 2019
Commentary: Navigating the new road to modern elderhood
A conversation among three friends suggests the modern elder has a role in the workplace, says Irene Hoe. – Channel News Asia, 1 September 2019