Truth About Managing People ... and Nothing but the Truth, The

Chapter 57. You CAN Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Western cultures have historically been biased toward youth. The problem is so serious that we have enacted legislation that specifically prohibits age discrimination in the workplace. But many of us still carry around a prejudice against hiring or investing in employees over age 50. Part of this prejudice, undoubtedly, reflects the widely-held stereotype that older workers have difficulties in adapting to new methods and techniques. Studies consistently demonstrate that older employees are perceived as being relatively inflexible, resistant to change, and less trainable than their younger counterparts, particularly with respect to information technology skills. But these perceptions are wrong.