How to Attract and Retain the Traditionalist Generation
"I've been in hardware ever since I got to Home Depot," Olsen said. "I sell tools and help people solve problems, kind of like I was doing before - resolving problems."
Ed Olsen, a former software engineer
Quote from article Retired Workers Crave Jobs found on NorthJersey.com
Gregg was an over-the-road truck driver for twenty years before he decided to retire a few years ago. He was looking forward to the time when he did not have to get up early each morning and hit the road driving sometimes for days while sleeping at night in the cab of his truck or at some lonely, off-the-beaten path hotel.
His first six months of retirement were everything he had hoped for. He slept in each day, got to read the newspaper in its entirety and fish for hours, if he wanted to. His wife was happy to have him around the house as many of those long forgotten home repair projects were finally getting the attention they needed.
As the next six months arrived and departed, Gregg began to feel isolated and a little bit lonely. While the daily freedom was incredible, he was finding it more difficult to get out of bed each morning. He missed the connections he made each day with his customers and co-workers and wanted to find a way to pass time that was relevant.
One day the phone rang and his previous employer asked if he could come work at the dispatcher desk for a week as the current dispatcher was going to be on vacation. Gregg jumped at the idea of working for a short time period with the people he knew already. While he was slightly hesitant to learn a new task, he was ready for the adventure.
Not only did Gregg enjoy the assignment but the employer appreciated Gregg's knowledge of the drivers and how they needed to receive communication. Gregg was offered a permanent part time position working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week so that he could have four days off in a row to continue enjoying his retirement!
Here are a few tips that you can implement today that will help attract and retain this great generation:
- Start by looking at your current retired population for possible candidates
- Design your website and job description to match the words and phrases used by retirement communities that attract this generation i.e., mature and reliable versus elderly and senior citizen
- Ask your current employees for referrals
- Post jobs at churches & community centers
To retain Traditionalists try these tips:
- Make them mentors of younger generations
- Offer to have them mentored by younger generations so they gain technical skills
- Offer to accommodate their physical abilities i.e., different shifts or activities like Gregg moving from a physically demanding job of truck driving to dispatching
If you are not tapping into the great experience and knowledge of the Traditionalist generation you are missing a hard working, dependable asset to your organization. With a little bit of planning and preparation, you will be able to gain the knowledge of a previous full time worker for half the cost as a part time worker.
