GAO Forum Discusses Engaging and Retaining Older Workers

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report summarizing a forum it convened in December 2006 to address the issues surrounding engaging and retaining older workers. Participants included experts representing employers, business and union groups, advocates, researchers, actuaries, and federal agencies.

Issued contemporaneosly with the Comptroller General's testifying at teh Senate Special Committee on Aging's hearing on the topic, the report--Highlights of a GAO Forum: Engaging and Retaining Older Workers--summarizes the ideas and themes that emerged at the forum, the collective discussion of participants, and comments received from participants based on a draft of the report. Among other things, forum participants discussed obstacles, best practices, and lessons learned from programs to help those older workers who can to work longer and better prepare for retirement, and considered strategies for encouraging organizations to implement practices that will result in more opportunities for older workers:

Key Obstacles: Some employers' perceptions about the cost of hiring and retaining older workers are a key obstacle in older workers' continued employment; total compensation and training costs were seen as primary concerns. Workplace age discrimination, the mismatch of workers' skills and availability of jobs because of changes in the economy, as well as the need to keep skills up to date, are all challenges facing older workers. There is a more limited pool of interested workers because of financial incentives to retire as soon as possible, workers' desire to retire or change careers, and some jobs' requirements that make continued work unappealing or unfeasible because of health issues. Legal and regulatory requirements hinder hiring and retaining older workers.

Best Practices and Lessons Learned: Participants shared examples of best practices and lessons learned, such as (1) use nontraditional recruiting techniques such as partnerships to help identify and recruit older workers; (2) employ flexible work situations and adapt job designs to meet the preferences and physical constraints of older workers; (3) offer the right mix of benefits and incentives to attract older workers such as tuition assistance, time off for elder care, and employee discounts; (4) treat all employees in a fair and consistent manner and employ a consistent performance management system to prevent age discrimination complaints; and (5) provide employees with financial literacy skills to ensure they have a realistic plan to provide for retirement security.

Strategies: (1) Conduct a national campaign to help change the national mindset about work at older ages. (2) Hold a national discussion about what "old" is to help change the culture of retirement. (3) Strengthen financial literacy education to help workers prepare to retire. (4) Create a clearinghouse of best recruiting, hiring, and retention practice for older workers. (5) Make the federal government a model employer for the nation in how it recruits and retains older workers. (6) Create a key federal role in partnerships to implement these strategies. (7) Consider specific legislation or regulations to increase flexibility for employers and employees to create new employment models.

Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office Abstract (February 28, 2007)