It’s been years since Granny Ina clocked off from her final shift, heading off into the sunset with her carriage clock for balmy winters in Tenerife.
But not everyone is ready to give up work once they hit retirement age.
Take 89-year-old Joe Bartley who made headlines recently when he advertised for a job to “stop him dying from boredom’’. The army veteran was inundated with offers.
Then there’s a certain Mr D Trump, who’s taken on the job of leader of the free world at the age of 70, the oldest first-term American president in history.
These examples are why savvy HR and Recruitment pros are red penning recent job figures that show there are higher numbers of older workers in employment than ever before – and more employers paying attention to the advantages older employees bring.
Here at s1jobs we’ve come up with the best reasons older employees are a boon to the workplace, especially in HR.
Dedication and loyalty
Although financial considerations come into it, many older workers are there because they want to be. You’re hardly likely to get them phoning in for a duvet day or because they were still on the Jägermeister at 2am. Punctuality and dedication are part of their DNA and that’s good news for the HR Manager.
A safer bet
Many firms invest countless hours and resources into hiring employees only to find they leave for greener pastures soon after. Older workers like stability and are less likely to job hop as they’re no longer concerned with climbing the career ladder.
Older and wiser
While energy and go-getting count for a lot when you’re younger, maturity and experience can’t be underestimated. Coupled with a strong work ethic and empathy with a company’s employees, it’s a winning combination.
Leading by example
Older workers can set a great example. In return for getting a helping hand with some of the hi-tech stuff, their focus and attention to detail in the often complex world of HR can rub off. Besides they can also keep you entertained explaining who the Beatles were.
Communication skills.
Older folks remember a time when communication wasn’t all e-mail, messaging or social media. They know the value of face-to-face communication. And they don’t feel the need to look at their phones every five minutes to check who’s posted what.
Working longer, it seems, could be good for everyone, so check out the latest HR vacancies for all ages on s1jobs.