Myths and Facts about Mature Workers

Why are some employers reluctant to hire older workers? A number of myths regarding mature workers prevail in the job marketplace. Here’s the first of two installments on these fallacies and the actual facts:

Myth #1: Mature Workers are Less Productive
According to the Department of Labor, employees in their late 50’s and 60’s are more conscientious and hard working than younger workers.

Myth #2: Older Workers are Sick More Often
According to the American Council of Life Insurance, workers 45 and older call in sick an average of 3.1 days per year compared to an average of 3.8 days for those 17-44.

Myth #3: Mature Workers are More Likely to Leave Employers
The opposite is true. In fact, according to the National Association of Working Women, women over 45 are 88% less likely to leave voluntarily than younger counterparts.

Myth #4: Older Workers are Less Competent
According to the Andrus Gerontology Center, the average age of candidates for top positions has increased steadily over the past 15 years.

Myth #5: Mature Workers are Less Capable of Making Decisions
Utter nonsense. Studies prove that older employees are actually more capable of evaluating decisions than younger employees. However, they usually take a little longer because experience has taught them the wisdom of caution.

What prejudices do you have regarding older workers? I’ll explore more myths in my next blog. For a free report on 10 Myths and 10 Facts About Mature Workers, go to www.AgelessInAmerica.com. Brad Taft