Administrative Assistant's Update

JANUARY 2017 2 E D I TO R ' S N OT E George Pearson Making the most of an aging workforce Canada's workforce is aging. Labour market participation rates of people 55 and over have swelled from about 23 per cent in the mid-1990s to 37 per cent in 2015. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? It's probably neither, but commonly held stereotypes of older workers can be a factor in dampening productivity in Canadian organizations, according to a study from Concordia University's John Molson School of Business. The study cites these stereotypes relating to an aging workforce: • slower learning • decreased physical and mental ability • less flexibility/adaptability • less motivation • less innovation • less productivity in relation to wage demands compared to younger workers "These stereotypes all suggest that workers perceive their more senior colleagues as less productive," says Steven Appelbaum, a management professor who co-authored the study with three MBA students. "But individual work performance doesn't depend entirely on age — it's mediated by different factors that vary throughout life." Appelbaum maintains that although physical decline is inevitable as a person ages, productivity and performance are not necessarily affected, especially in organizations that have developed programs to enhance the productivity of older workers, such as training plans and career development opportunities. Viewing motivation as key to productivity, the research team posed practical workplace approaches such as providing: • new work tasks and opportunities • new learning opportunities • individualized rewards • an open and informal dialogue between managers and employees • recognition of achievements and high performance both publically and privately With self-motivation established, employers can then promote productivity by offering flexible work hours and tasks, creating mentorship programs between older and younger employees, facilitating improved health and ergonomic conditions and providing career development. Mentorship programs are a component of an "emeritus" status for older employees suggested by CARP (formerly the Canadian Association for Retired Persons), which would also include roles in strategic planning, special projects, outreach and recruiting. Another CARP suggestion is intergenerational sensitivity initiatives to counteract ageism and ageist practices in the workplace. Employers can also provide for employees of all ages in employer-sponsored insurance benefits. Whether or not you're in or approaching the "older" employee phase of your career, you may be in a position to influence those who can make a difference in how older employees are viewed and supported in your organization. Administrative Assistant's Update is published once a month by Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. Director, Carswell Media: Karen Lorimer Publisher: Todd Humber Editor: George Pearson george@adminupdate.ca Associate Editor: Jennifer Lewington jennifer@adminupdate.ca EDITORIAL OFFICE (519) 271-6000 Administrative Assistant's Update Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. 1 Corporate Plaza, 2075 Kennedy Road Toronto, ON M1T 3V4 CUSTOMER SERVICE (416) 609-3800 (800) 387-5164 FAX (416) 298-5082 (877) 750-9041 carswell.customerrelations@ thomsonreuters.com Contents copyright. All rights reserved. © 2017 Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. Contents may not be reproduced without written permission. Brief extracts may be made with due acknowledgement. Annual subscription: $189. Publications Mail Registration No. 40065782 GST# 897176350 UPDATE Administrative Assistant's Live in the moment Happy people are highly intentional, says Travis Bradberry, president of TalentSmart, in a recent LinkedIn post. They live in the present, not regret- ting the past nor worrying about the future. "It's impossible to be happy," he says, "if you're constantly some- where else, unable to fully embrace the reality (good or bad) of this very moment. "To help yourself live in the mo- ment, you must do two things: First, accept your past. If you don't make peace with your past, it will never leave you and, in doing so, it will cre- ate your future. Second, accept the uncertainty of the future. Worry has no place in the here and now."

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