Hiring Seniors

Adding experienced and reliable workers can enhance your business

By Judy Rakowsky, Freelance writer/editor

As the labor force grows older and more people work well past retirement, seniors bring built-in advantages as hiring prospects. Senior workers have extended track records of reliability and problem-solving abilities that can balance your staff and help your business grow. That work ethic and interest in staying on the job are causing many major employers to find ways to attract senior applicants. Senior employees add value because:

They tend to take jobs more seriously and stay in one job longer, sparing employers the hiring and training costs of high turnover.
Senior workers are cheaper to cover even if you provide supplemental Medicare coverage than workers who are on a full HMO or PPO health plan.
They are easier to train than younger workers because they have been in the workforce and have already learned other jobs and routines.

Know the law

Senior employees may fill your needs for part-time or seasonal jobs and they may prefer that flexibility. But if you don’t consider them or give them a chance at full-time work you could run afoul of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Try: : The American Association of Retired Persons is a great source for overt and subtle practices to avoid. You can also check with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on the law.

Recruit smartly

Many active seniors are on the Internet, but don’t limit yourself to getting the word out in cyberspace.
Try: Create partnerships with senior associations and publicize openings in community newsletters as well as free shoppers that circulate among older workers.

Get the word out on the web

The older workers who are not Internet surfers will find a way to look online if they are serious about work.
Try: Advertise on the Senior Job Bank, Seniors4hire. AARP’s job site also showcases employers who recruit seniors, and has a section that provides helpful information to employers who want to hire seniors.

Seeking specialized employees

Some networks have emerged to help find specific skill sets and experience.
Try: Companies seeking engineers, scientists and product managers should check out YourEncore, which is an online recruitment firm that actually pays the workers. It was originally formed by Eli Lilly and Proctor & Gamble to lure back their retirees. Another source of specialized workers especially for companies who handle government contracts is Enrg. For $1,000 a year, employers can get 18 months of access to resumes of retired government employees whose expertise ranges from construction to contract management.

Be ready to answer questions in the hiring process on how you will provide training in the latest technology and ensure that senior workers will be able to pick up those lessons.
When hiring seniors, make sure that the job is not too demanding physically or be ready to make adjustments to distribute that burden.
Don’t skip the background check even if the candidate seems kindly and solid. Check credentials and public records and avoid importing problems.
Create teams or mentoring partnerships to integrate different generations into your workforce. Don’t allow cliques and divisions to solidify.