Aging Workforce

1. What changes in employment relationships are likely to occur as the population ages?

Several changes are expected to take place in employment relationships as the population ages and these include:

• Companies hiring former workers as Independent Contractors.

• Reduced hours and flexible schedules.

• Phased retirement that allows people move from full time to part time as more people look for part time jobs that allow them blend work and family.

• More training tailored towards older people

• As the workforce ages it is likely that companies will look to other options such as outsourcing make jobs more flexible.

2. Do you think increasing age diversity will create new challenges for managers? What types of challenges do you expect will be most profound?

Increasing workforce diversity will create new challenges for managers for several reasons.

The first problem a manager will have is in finding a way to balance motivation in the workplace. This is because what motivates a younger person will not necessarily motivate an older person. Managers will need to find a way to balance this when dealing with age diversity. Also there is the problem of how to form a cohesive workplace by bridging the gap between the older and younger workers. This is important because a manager will not want the younger workers to discriminate or exclude the older workers from working on teams or other assignments.

3. How can organizations cope with differences related to age discrimination in the workplace?

• By implementing strategies that place older people in positions best suited to their ability without stereotyping them.

• Organizations need to look for ways to make technology more friendly to older people as this can enhance the workplace experience for an older population.

• Ensure that the reward system is based on performance and not tenure.

4. What types of policies might lead to charges of age discrimination, and how can they be changed to eliminate...