Grab More Market Share: How to Wrangle Business Away from Lazy Competitors

Hire Back to the Future

Here is a contrarian idea that seems counterintuitive to those of us who are dedicated to future thinking. Hire old people. Seriously, did you know that by 2016 33 percent of the total U.S. workforce will be 50 years old or older? That's up from 28 percent in 2007. Smart organizations are attracting and retaining mature, experienced employees. This tactic is important for organizations that want to keep a competitive edge.

Since 2001, the AARP (American Association for Retired Persons) has published an annual list of the Best Employers for Workers Over 50. AARP wants to recognize “organizations that have implemented new and innovative policies and best practices to meet their talent management needs in the current economic environment.”

Read those two paragraphs again and you'll weed out the phrases “retaining mature, experienced employees,” and “organizations that want to keep a competitive edge” and “[hiring older workers meets a company's] talent management needs.” How is that possible if most organizations must continue to innovate? Aren't older workers anxious to take early retirement “packages” so they can spend more time at the golf course or a day spa?

Brother, if that's what you think, then you don't know old people very well.

Thanks to medical science, men and women over 50 are feeling as physically and mentally effective as 30 year olds. The term “active senior” has wormed its way into our national lexicon to mean a person over 50 who still wants ...