We are all living longer and are also working more years.

According to the United States Jobs report, 19% of people 65 or older are working at least part-time in the second quarter of 2017.

People are in better health and living longer so it is natural that workers will be delaying their cessation of employment.

Financial difficulties also require seniors to work longer.

The Social Security administration maximizes the payments if the senior holds off collecting until they reach 70.

This brings on the perfect storm of an older workforce which is a double blessing for an employer.

Having an experienced workforce that is used to showing up on time, working without supervision, not hung over from a night of partying (well, most of them), and remain steady in a crisis is a valuable addition to your workforce.

The drawback is that they are not going to easily be sucked into a new scheme of the company or prodded into night and weekend work just because of a fake crisis.

Young workers are excited about their job and any weird idea you come up with.

Senior workers are going to require a much more convincing argument for them to go into crisis mode.  Those of us older have seen the fake emergencies before and don’t respond to the alarm bell automatically.

Senior Worker Home Run

For the senior knowledge workers (e.g., those sitting in front of a computer all day), a home run (pun intended) can be hit with the seniors by allowing them to work remotely.  Allowing the senior to skip the time suck of commutes and the cost driving to an office each day, you can keep the senior worker around for years.

As a senior ages, the body is starting to slow down and aches and pains are more prevalent.  Getting up at the crack of dawn is harder and harder.

By working remote, the senior will minimize the pain and suffering of commuting to work.  In addition, there may be other physical ailments or limitations which working from home will be a great help.

You may even get them to agree to reduced pay in order to be able to work remotely!

Don’t avoid hiring seniors (besides it is illegal) and hire these great experience people that can really help out your business!