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Don’t Give Up on Your Aging Boomers Just Yet


By: Larry and Meagan Johnson Adaptedfromtheirnewbook, “Generations,Inc.”


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ccording to a survey of more than 2,200 employees ages 17 to 81 and representing nine organizations in different industries, “older Baby


Boomers (ages 53 to 61) reported significantly less support from their supervisors to acquire additional training to further their careers than did workers ages 27 to 52” (Generation Xers and younger Boomers). They also reported less access to flexible work options than did Gen Xers and Gen Yers. In addition, “those with the least amount of job tenure (0-3 years) felt more supported by their supervisors, and that they had greater access to learning and development opportunities than those with more than three years on the job.”


Don’t Neglect Their Growth Needs Neglecting the growth needs of Baby Boomers is understandable. They seem to be successful doing what they are doing, so why would they need it? After all, they’ll be leaving soon, so why waste money training them when it can be better spent on someone younger?


12 CA Employer September 2010


That can be a mistake, because many Boomers aren’t planning to retire any time soon. In fact, in an AARP survey, 27 percent of workers ages 45 and up said the economic slowdown had prompted them to postpone plans to retire. More than three quarters of the Boomers surveyed (76 percent) said they intend to keep working and earning in retirement. For some, working is an economic necessity. Other Boomers simply like working and can’t imagine life without a productive job.


Since most Gen Xers and Gen Yers view their jobs as temporary assignments, paying to train older employees may be the safer bet. Even if the Boomer retires before you get a return on your investment, you may be able to recover that investment with some creative planning. We know a Baby Boomer telecommunications engineer who oversaw the installation of large phone systems for big corporate customers. Six months before her retirement, her company significantly upgraded these systems, which required extensive new training for installers and the


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