Changing the mindset about older workers

So often a belief will come about someone or something and it becomes the gospel fact, whether it is true or not. Changing that belief is difficult if not impossible, that seems to be the case about older workers.


Really it isn’t just the mindset about older workers; it is also the mindset about older people in general. The age of fifty for some odd reason become the line of demarcation where the body falls apart and the brain’s function starts downhill.

But where does this come from?

It is certainly true that over time the body wears down and eventually wears out. But that is over a great deal of time. By eating right and exercising on a regular basis, general good health can be maintained for many years past the age of fifty. So the argument that bad health is a part of being older is bogus. But this idea has been around forever probably perpetuated by a youth focused media.

Another unfortunate belief is that older people, particularly older workers, aren’t as sharp as the younger folks. They don’t learn things as quickly and their judgment is often questioned. Speaking of judgment, is there anyone on the Supreme court younger than 50? No, and there isn’t an automatic retirement age either. Really, the issue about learning new concepts quickly and anything involving the thought process doesn’t have anything to do with age.

And of course there is the matter of retirement, as in the older worker is about to retire so you don’t want to hire them. In this economy? No, if anything an older worker will be more stable in a job than someone who is just starting out.

Hopefully as the country gets older as a whole these and other erroneous notions will be forgotten.

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