How Workplace Diversity Will Change the Conversation Around Aging
01/16/2017
I'm not sure we are on the cusp of fundamental change in the American workplace when it comes to age discrimination, but there are some promising signs, according to a recent report published by AARP, "Disrupting Age in the Workplace."
It is not uncommon for the modern day workplace to include workers from five different generations. Despite this reality, less than ten percent of CEOs include age as a factor in their diversity and inclusion strategy, according to a PwC global survey. AARP reports, however, that "Research has shown that age diversity can improve organizational performance if managed well. ...One research study found that the relative productivity of both older and younger workers is higher in companies that utilize mixed-age work teams than in companies that do not. Another study found that age diversity within a team was positively related to performance for groups that are involved in performing complex decision-making tasks."
The AARP report goes on to examine five companies that excel at addressing age diversity and the intergenerational workforce. The companies are:Huntington Ingalls Industries, UnitedHealth Group, Centrica, PNC, and AT&T. Within these companies several "promising practices" were found, including:
• Talent recruitment across all ages help build a diverse and experienced workforce.
• Apprentice programs open to people of all ages helps recruit and retain talent.
• Special programs designed to help people reenter the workforce following an extended absence provide an opportunity for permanent employment.
• Raising awareness of intergenerational differences enhances understanding and leads to better-functioning teams.
• Cross-generational mentoring programs help facilitate knowledge transfer—a critical need for many companies.
If you would like to read the entire AARP report, you can download a copy by clicking below.
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