Age Discrimination Visible, but U.S. Businesses Urge Older Workers to Stay on the Job
November 16 2005 - 6:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
National Study Suggests Many Keep Working Out of Financial
Necessity NEW YORK, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- While nearly
a quarter (23 percent) of the U.S. workforce knows of an older
worker who has been denied a job, promotion or raise because of
age, more than twice as many businesses encourage older workers to
stay on the job than to retire early. According to a national
Hudson survey, 38 percent of workers say their organizations keep
older workers because they are difficult to replace, compared to 15
percent whose firms want to make way for younger workers.
Entrepreneurs and small-business operators are especially eager to
retain older workers; 49 percent encourage them to stay on the job,
compared to 11 percent promoting retirement. Conversely, 26 percent
of government workers say retirement is actively encouraged. Many
organizations -- and particularly larger ones -- proactively take
steps to take advantage of older workers' experience. Thirty-five
percent of respondents say their firms offer formal mentoring
programs to pair a younger worker with an older one for guidance
and training. That number rises to 50 percent among companies with
250-500 employees. Among those employees whose firms offer such
programs, 51 percent say their firms encourage older workers to
stay. "With 76 million baby boomers approaching retirement age,
retaining older workers is not so much a choice as a necessity,"
said Alicia Barker, vice president of human resources, Hudson North
America. "That said, organizations that go beyond accommodation to
active engagement of older workers stand to benefit from a loyal,
hardworking labor force that offers tremendous experience and
institutional knowledge." Even as companies do more to keep workers
on the job longer, those workers themselves may not have a choice.
According to a Hudson survey earlier this year, 74 percent of U.S.
workers plan to work at least part-time during their retirement
years. This month's survey found that 57 percent of workers believe
that people continue to work beyond retirement age because they
need money, while just 27 percent say it is because they enjoy
having something to do. Survey Highlights All Workers Entrepreneurs
Government Private Believe their company encourages older workers
to stay on job 38% 49% 30% 13% Believe their company encourages
older workers to retire 15% 11% 49% 35% The Hudson aging workforce
survey is based on a national poll of 1,075 U.S. workers and was
compiled by Rasmussen Reports, LLC, an independent research firm
(http://www.rasmussenreports.com/). The survey respondents make up
a cross-section of the U.S. workforce. A more detailed data report
is available at http://www.hudson-index.com/. Hudson, one of the
world's leading professional staffing, outsourcing and human
capital solution providers, also publishes the Hudson Employment
Index(SM), a monthly measure of the U.S. workforce's confidence in
the employment market. The next monthly Hudson Employment Index
will be released on November 30, 2005. Hudson Hudson delivers
specialized professional staffing, outsourcing, and human capital
solutions worldwide. From single placements to total solutions, the
firm helps clients achieve greater organizational performance by
assessing, recruiting, developing and engaging the best and
brightest people for their businesses. Hudson is a division of
Hudson Highland Group, Inc. one of the world's leading professional
staffing, retained executive search and human capital solution
providers. The company employs more than 3,800 professionals
serving clients and candidates in more than 20 countries through
its Hudson and Highland Partners businesses. More information is
available at http://www.hudson.com/. DATASOURCE: Hudson CONTACT:
Jennifer Bernhart of Hudson, +1-813-890-7379, , or Anshula
Ahluwalia of Ogilvy Public Relations for Hudson, +1-312-397-6074,
Web site: http://www.hudson.com/ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/
http://www.hudson-index.com/
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