Comments on: Boomer Workers…Work or Retire? http://blogs.capella.edu/organizationalperspectives/2008/06/30/boomer-workers%e2%80%a6work-or-retire/ Applying busines, psychology and education disciplines to help human capital management professionals improve the performance of their organizations. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:22:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Anita Pincas http://blogs.capella.edu/organizationalperspectives/2008/06/30/boomer-workers%e2%80%a6work-or-retire/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Anita Pincas Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:40 +0000 http://blogs.capella.edu/organizationalperspectives/?p=23#comment-29 These are important social and economic issues that people over in the UK and Europe are also dealing with. One big gap in research and data is evidence that the older population is still as able to learn and adapt to change as younger people are. This would go a long way towards persuading employers to be less ageist, and also to give the over 60s more confidence. At the Institute of Education of London University we have about 10% of our students over 50, and have done a survey to find out how they approach their learning. The replies were overwhelmingly positive - they have faith in their own skills, and they do well. Other UK research shows that they have very high completion rates at graduate level too. And, in fact, about 15% of undergraduates in the UK are over 50 nowadays. We are so encouraged by this, that we have started what may be the first master's level course on learning at 50+, for which I have developed a pretty big bibliography. More information if you are interested, either from me by email, or on the website. Anita Pincas, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Education, University of London London UK These are important social and economic issues that people over in the UK and Europe are also dealing with. One big gap in research and data is evidence that the older population is still as able to learn and adapt to change as younger people are. This would go a long way towards persuading employers to be less ageist, and also to give the over 60s more confidence.

At the Institute of Education of London University we have about 10% of our students over 50, and have done a survey to find out how they approach their learning. The replies were overwhelmingly positive – they have faith in their own skills, and they do well. Other UK research shows that they have very high completion rates at graduate level too. And, in fact, about 15% of undergraduates in the UK are over 50 nowadays.

We are so encouraged by this, that we have started what may be the first master’s level course on learning at 50+, for which I have developed a pretty big bibliography. More information if you are interested, either from me by email, or on the website.

Anita Pincas, Senior Lecturer,
Institute of Education,
University of London
London UK

]]> By: Janet Salmons http://blogs.capella.edu/organizationalperspectives/2008/06/30/boomer-workers%e2%80%a6work-or-retire/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Janet Salmons Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:39:47 +0000 http://blogs.capella.edu/organizationalperspectives/?p=23#comment-17 Thanks for your comments-- interesting dilemmas indeed. FYI to Capella visitors: the journals and articles listed are available in the library. Thanks for your comments– interesting dilemmas indeed. FYI to Capella visitors: the journals and articles listed are available in the library.

]]> By: C. C. Keirsey http://blogs.capella.edu/organizationalperspectives/2008/06/30/boomer-workers%e2%80%a6work-or-retire/comment-page-1/#comment-16 C. C. Keirsey Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:01:47 +0000 http://blogs.capella.edu/organizationalperspectives/?p=23#comment-16 Interesting points Will. I wonder whether and how Boomers will contend with the life challenges you list—if they keep on working? Based on a lot of factors in the current economy people are in fact working longer. (The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College just published a book by that title: Working Longer: The Solution to the Retirement Income Challenge.) What impact will a more age diverse workplace have on workers of all ages? Positive exchange between people who can learn from each other about meaning and meaningful relationships at different life stages? Or will age be divisive—so “ageism” must be the next “-ism” to talk about in diversity training? Will age discrimination cause more costly and disruptive lawsuits? The current issue of the Academy of Management Perspectives contains a related article titled, “Age Discrimination: Alive and Well in the Workplace?” (Seaton, 2008) The authors review a study profiled in a special issue on the “Sociology of Ageism” in the September 2007 issue of the journal Social Forces to find the answer: yes, age discrimination is an issue in the workplace (Roscigno, Mong, Byron, & Tester, 2007). Roscigno, V. J., Mong, S., Byron, R., & Tester, G. (2007). Age discrimination, social closure and employment. Social Forces, 86(1), 313-334. Seaton, J. C. S. W. J. (2008). Age discrimination: Alive and well in the workplace? Academy of Management Perspectives 22(2), 103-104. Interesting points Will. I wonder whether and how Boomers will contend with the life challenges you list—if they keep on working? Based on a lot of factors in the current economy people are in fact working longer. (The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College just published a book by that title: Working Longer: The Solution to the Retirement Income Challenge.) What impact will a more age diverse workplace have on workers of all ages? Positive exchange between people who can learn from each other about meaning and meaningful relationships at different life stages? Or will age be divisive—so “ageism” must be the next “-ism” to talk about in diversity training? Will age discrimination cause more costly and disruptive lawsuits?

The current issue of the Academy of Management Perspectives contains a related article titled, “Age Discrimination: Alive and Well in the Workplace?” (Seaton, 2008) The authors review a study profiled in a special issue on the “Sociology of Ageism” in the September 2007 issue of the journal Social Forces to find the answer: yes, age discrimination is an issue in the workplace (Roscigno, Mong, Byron, & Tester, 2007).

Roscigno, V. J., Mong, S., Byron, R., & Tester, G. (2007). Age discrimination, social closure and employment. Social Forces, 86(1), 313-334.

Seaton, J. C. S. W. J. (2008). Age discrimination: Alive and well in the workplace? Academy of Management Perspectives 22(2), 103-104.

]]> By: Will Wilson http://blogs.capella.edu/organizationalperspectives/2008/06/30/boomer-workers%e2%80%a6work-or-retire/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Will Wilson Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:35:09 +0000 http://blogs.capella.edu/organizationalperspectives/?p=23#comment-14 If I can add a psychological perspective to this discussion - there is considerable concern for how the retiring boomers will find "meaning" in their lives as they retire. In my work as both a clinical psychologist and on organizational consultant, I have found that many of the high-powered boomers found meaning in "making the deal" and winning. How will this competitive edge or “need” play out in retirement. Perhaps they could provide an untapped pool of volunteers. http://www.urban.org/publications/411579.html Many of these boomers will be seeking education. http://www.urban.org/publications/411579.html There had been considerable discussion about innovative solutions to retirement, but much of this discussion has drifted towards practical financial issues, to include social security. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4471384 A quick synopsis of an existential view of major life challenges address: Mortality versus mortality Meaningful versus meaningless relationship Meaning of life versus lack of any meaning Fear of accidents (even bad things can happen to good people) Will these life issues become more acute as boomers have more time to address and contemplate them? And for our businesses – can we afford the loss of the expertise that these retiring boomers represent? How can we acquire the experience and wisdom they have developed? Could they provide “visiting Professors” for on-line organizations like ours? My take it that the arrival of the boomers at retirement age provides many more questions and opportunities if we can determine how to engage them. If I can add a psychological perspective to this discussion – there is considerable concern for how the retiring boomers will find “meaning” in their lives as they retire. In my work as both a clinical psychologist and on organizational consultant, I have found that many of the high-powered boomers found meaning in “making the deal” and winning. How will this competitive edge or “need” play out in retirement.

Perhaps they could provide an untapped pool of volunteers.
http://www.urban.org/publications/411579.html

Many of these boomers will be seeking education.
http://www.urban.org/publications/411579.html

There had been considerable discussion about innovative solutions to retirement, but much of this discussion has drifted towards practical financial issues, to include social security.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4471384

A quick synopsis of an existential view of major life challenges address:

Mortality versus mortality
Meaningful versus meaningless relationship
Meaning of life versus lack of any meaning
Fear of accidents (even bad things can happen to good people)

Will these life issues become more acute as boomers have more time to address and contemplate them?

And for our businesses – can we afford the loss of the expertise that these retiring boomers represent? How can we acquire the experience and wisdom they have developed? Could they provide “visiting Professors” for on-line organizations like ours?

My take it that the arrival of the boomers at retirement age provides many more questions and opportunities if we can determine how to engage them.

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