An aging workforce forces companies to adapt
So, you thought it was parents with young children who were driving corporations to offer flexible work arrangements?
Nope. It’s the Baby Boomers.
Like it or leave it, Boomers are working well into their older years (see: my almost 75 year old father who teaches high school full-time), and, they are forcing change in traditional work arrangements.
The need to retain the aging work force in some areas is forcing companies to offer flexibility, and, technology to make working easier because older workers often aren’t willing or able to remain with the company unless concessions are made.
However, according to the MSNBC article, Baby boomers will spend golden years at work, the downside is the diminishing health of older workers, and, potential conflict between older and younger workers.
Professionals (doctors, lawyers, business executives) have always worked into their “golden years,” mostly, I think, because they like what they do. My own father, a blue-collar worker, hated his job. He retired at 62 and never missed his working life during the 17 years of his retirement.
For me the situation is different. I’ll be 62 next summer, and the last thing in the world I want to do is retire. The reason is that I like what I do. As more of us find rewarding work, more of us will let the traditional retirement age come and go. We’ll keep working.
The really nice thing is that the changes the Baby Boomers are getting made can help everybody else too!
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