Boomers will keep on working... but how safely?
Submitted by Rob on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 09:24.
Just imagine the safety risks when you get passed by a 90-year-old truck driver; that’s what you might be faced with in the future as the skilled labour shortage becomes a leading economic issue.
As a business owner I preferred hiring experienced workers over the younger Y and X generation employees. Although Boomers' ability to grasp all the new computer programming was not quick, they seemed to rely on their experience in working with people, problems and possibilities. Boomers were also reliable and loyal members of the working family.
The real issue that confronts all of us in North America is that over the next 20 years there will not be enough workers between the ages of 25 and 54 to fill all the available jobs. More business owners will have to rely on the Boomers, immigration or outsourcing to keep pace with demand of productivity.
We are fortunate that many Boomers will be able to work; they've kept themselves in good health. Also many Boomers may not want to retire because of lack of savings, boredom, the kids moving back home, or looking for a new mountain to climb. [I'm in three of the four mentioned categories-so I guess that means I will be driving a truck until I am 90.]
What employers will have to recognize is that Boomers pose a higher risk problem than even young workers. When sight, hearing and coordination [and hair] begin to disappear, certain responsibilities will become high-risk positions.
But champion employers will recognize that adjustments must be made every six months or annually for older employees. [Getting a GPS System with large letters, pictures and a loud voice might help my truck find its destination.]
Companies may continue outsourcing some of our manufacturing and service industry work to China and India. But there are still many industries - such as medicine, engineering, utilities, law, trucking, construction, agriculture, oil, mining, and technology - that will need seasoned Boomers to help keep the standard of living high in our communities.
I am still hoping that I will be able to reach the brakes, find the shifter and see my new GPS when I take on my next challenge.
The first thing I thought of
The first thing I thought of when I read this post was the Edmonton truck driver who crashed off an overpass last week. The driver suffered from "severe hypoglycemic reactions that caused seizures" and, in my opinion, should never have been behind the wheel of a large truck. No matter what age (the driver in the story was just 25), transport companies need to screen their drivers for health and safety issues to avoid tragedies like this one.
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