Living in a youth-centric means that you could be depriving your company of the wisdom and insight of older workers. Here are some ideas to help you buckle this trend and combat ageism in the workplace.
1. Be Open to a Broad Range of Ages
In your job postings, make sure to include a wide range of ages whenever possible. You may even consider making this openness part of your employer branding. By embracing candidates of different ages, you will create a richer, more stimulating environment. In fact, research suggests that workers of all ages report higher levels of satisfaction when working in multi-age teams.
2. Consider Reverse Mentoring
Reverse mentoring is a new concept that Microsoft has applied with success. In this type of coaching, a young employee coaches an older colleague about new technologies and trends. Conversely, the older colleague provides insight and advice distilled from years of experience. This way your company gets to benefit from the unique insight of young employees combined with the experience of more senior colleagues.
3. Build a Stereotype-Free Workplace Culture
Stereotypes stifle the creativity of your team and limit what your organization can achieve. Avoid pigeon-holing members of your team and steer clear of blanket statements such as “Millennials are too sensitive,” or “People over 50 just don’t get technology.” Give your employees the freedom to be what they want to be regardless of origin, gender, or age and the results will amaze you.
4. Make Your Job Postings Age-Inclusive
The way your job postings are written might be inadvertently turning off older candidates. Your message should emphasize the fact that quality and experience, not age, are the factors that drive your hiring process. Use a neutral language, and have people of all ages proofread the job posting to make sure it conveys the right message.
More Tips and Ideas
At the ONE Inland Empire Chamber of Commerce, we are always looking for ideas that help foster the growth of your business. Here are some previous posts to help you do just that:
- How to use social media to advance your career
- Cybersecurity basics for small businesses
- 3 Simple ways to protect yourself against identity theft
- Common grammar mistakes to avoid in your business emails
Interested in learning more about the ONE Inland Empire Chamber of Commerce? Contact us today by email (info@oneinlandempire.com), telephone (951-280-3902), or social media. We look forward to hearing from you!
