Ohio Department of Aging
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November 2007
Click the image above to download print-quality photos of Director Riley.
We know that America is aging. What we don't know is exactly how dramatic an impact this will have on the workforce. By 2012, nearly 20 percent of the total U.S. workforce will be age 55 or older, up from just under 13 percent in 2000, according to an AARP study.
As Baby Boomers near traditional retirement age, many companies are facing a potentially significant loss of talent and institutional knowledge. Companies will be able to avoid this loss by encouraging older workers to stay in the workforce longer and by hiring other older workers who, for a variety of reasons, are not yet ready to retire.
Employers rate older workers high on factors such as judgment, commitment to quality, attendance and punctuality. These qualities, coupled with their sense of loyalty, make them an attractive resource. However, employers may need to make accommodations to place and retain qualified seniors in the workplace. For example, work and life programs can reduce employee turnover, increase productivity and decrease absenteeism and health care costs, according to the Families and Work Institute, a nonprofit research organization that addresses the changing nature of work and family life.
AARP listed two Ohio businesses among its "50 Best Employers for Workers Over 50" because of the accommodations they have made for their older employees. Jennings Center for Older Adults (ranked 26), in Garfield Heights, and Fairfield Medical Center (ranked 43), in Lancaster, were chosen because of their innovative policies and programs.
Almost a third of Jennings Center employees are 50+. Recognizing a high rate of staff injuries from lifting patients, the Center partnered with Kent State University to eliminate manual lifting and transferring and promote "Safe Movement" programs. They also purchased equipment and technology to make work easier for older workers who may be more prone to injury. The Center uses senior placement agencies to recruit staff and encourages retirees to work part-time after retirement.
Fairfield Medical Center supports employee training and education and offers flexible schedules to accommodate employees enrolled at outside educational or career advancement programs. In addition, Fairfield has more than 400 "casual status" employees to help cover shifts for those employees going to class. They also offer alternative work arrangements, job sharing and telecommuting.
Employers are increasingly recognizing the impact of caregiving on productivity. As many as one in four workers now care for older or disabled loved ones, according to MetLife Mature Market Institute. Family caregivers struggle to balance work and elder care obligations. The resulting stress often affects a worker's health, finances, family and social life and productivity. The cost to business from the lost productivity of working caregivers is more than $33 billion per year, nationally.
Both the Jennings Center and Fairfield Medical Center offer time off without pay for caregiving. Fairfield employees may donate paid time off to fellow employees who are experiencing a personal or family hardship. Jennings offers wellness programs such as flu shots, health screenings, physical activity and exercise programs, stress management training and an on-site wellness center.
To help all Ohio employers deal with this coming "gray drain" and follow the lead of companies like the Jennings Center and Fairfield Medical, Governor Strickland and the Department of Aging will convene business leaders and human resources professionals at the Governor's Conference on Aging on November 28, 2007. Topics will include the impact of mature workers on the economy and the benefits, both financial and experiential, of mature workers continuing to earn and contributing to business development. For more information, visit GoldenBuckeye.com/conference.
Ohio Department of Aging