Valuing Experience

Key principles for effectively recruiting and retaining older employees

Although companies had different motivations for and responses to recruiting and retaining older workers, the successful organisations all followed some similar principles. These organisations:

  

·        Treat people as individuals – one size rarely fits all  

·        Deliberately consider the needs of older employees and make sure that policies and practices work as well for them as for younger employees 

·        Involve older workers in decisions that will impact on them 

·        Provide a space for safe conversations and problem solving about people’s situations and aspirations 

·        Equip managers and supervisors to initiate and participate in these conversations 

·        Use multi-faceted communication strategies, but whenever possible include face-to-face communication as a communication strategy 

·        Develop a culture that values age and experience 

·        Prevent problems rather than respond when they occur.