The American workforce has been aging for several years now, as workers live longer and postpone retirement for financial and lifestyle reasons. In fact, 1 in 4 of the 164 million workers in the labor force will be 55 or older by 2024.

As the modern workplace advances into the future, employing aging workers may seem like an unavoidable financial burden for some employers. However, there are numerous benefits to retaining older workers that can serve as a competitive advantage for your organization if properly utilized. 

Here’s a closer look at the benefits and risks of employing older workers and how to go about properly hiring and retaining this valuable talent pool.

Benefits of employing an aging workforce

Investing in your older workers and making an effort to accommodate their lifestyles and minimize their risk of injury can be extremely rewarding for your business. Here are a few areas where this can prove advantageous:

  • Leadership – Older workers exhibit a professionalism and work ethic that can effectively lead less experienced workers and help set an example that can boost the productivity of your entire workforce. 
  • Experience – Aging employees have a wealth of valuable experience – both in the real world and on the job – than can translate into a wide scope of skill and expertise within a given role.
  • Mentorship – Many aging workers welcome the opportunity to mentor younger workers, especially if it may allow them to contribute outside of physically demanding tasks. This mentorship can foster loyalty from younger employees and also reduces training costs.

Risks of employing an aging workforce

While the advantages of employing experienced workers are widespread and significant, there are also a number of risks that if not addressed can have a negative impact on your business. Aging employees can often be the most skilled team members on the job, but they can also be the most vulnerable. Here are a few risks to make sure you mitigate:

  • Decrease in maximum strength – The maximum strength of employees typically plateaus and begins to decrease at the age of 30.
  • Increased risk of MSDs – Issues with balance, vision, and medicinal side-effects can all contribute to an increased likelihood of falls or other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
  • Longer recovery period – As workers age, injuries are less common but are often more severe and require a longer recovery period.

While there’s no question an MSD such as a rotator cuff tear or back strain may take longer and be more costly for a 60-year-old compared to a 20-year-old, the aging population is still highly responsive to Early Intervention and proactive injury prevention. In fact, if Early Intervention is done correctly, some of the best results can often be seen with older workers.

Despite this being somewhat counterintuitive, aging employees are not as fragile as many employers assume, and with a proper Early Intervention program, you’ll likely find that a little “grease” goes a long way.

Creating an age-friendly workplace via safety

Understanding the benefit of employing older workers is the first half of the process. Next is taking steps to cultivate an age-friendly workplace that ensures the job and the environment are suited for workers of all ages. Doing so involves a few key factors, including:

  • Job hazard analysis – You need to make sure aging workers can perform in a given role. This involves an analysis of the job’s hazards and demands so that your team and your workers understand what’s involved.
  • Ergonomics – MSDs such as lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendinitis are more common in older workers who have special needs when it comes to safety. The jobs, tools, and environment itself need to be ergonomically designed to suit all workers – including senior ones.
  • Early Intervention – Preventing injury in older workers starts with onsite Early Intervention. You need to be proactive to get ahead of potential injuries before a symptom even arises.

Strengthen and retain your aging workforce with Fit For Work

Fit For Work provides one-on-one, onsite interaction with your employees to deliver safety solutions designed to retain workers both young and old. Our turnkey services blend seamlessly with your operations to serve your organization exactly as you need them to.

Contact us today to begin implementing a comprehensive safety program that will help achieve long and productive careers for your aging workers.

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