Menu Search

Looking for practical strategies & solutions for your ageing workforce? Try our online Risk Assessment.

Get Started Now

Archive for category Media

age equality front and centre

Posted by Alison in Commentary, Media on June 24th, 2011

Elizabeth Broderick spoke this week at The Sydney Institute on the pervasive issue of age discrimination and confirmed that from July 2011 there will be an inaugural, dedicated Age Discrimination Commissioner in Australia.

Elizabeth shared stories gathered throughout her term with AHRC from mature workers not given a ‘fair go’; reviewed the positive changes and reforms that have taken place in recent years; and talked about the development of a Convention on the Rights of Older People.

A binding convention will recognise the fundamental human rights and freedoms of older people globally. A convention will open up a space for the voices of older people to be heard – for older people themselves to be the architects of their own destinies.

Elizabeth reflected on a personal story of her father, when hearing ‘exclusive language’ being used, asks “Where’s the evidence?”.

A question that organisations and recruitment agencies across Australia should be asking when it comes to the recruitment and career opportunities of mature workers.

One thing is for sure, Elizabeth Broderick has paved the way for a ‘community where when we speak about human rights, age equality is front and centre’.

Full speech

 

, , , , ,

No Comments

age on an equal footing

Posted by Alison in Media on May 27th, 2011

This week saw the passing of amendments to the Sex and Age Discrimination legislation, paving the way for a dedicated Age Discrimination Commissioner in Australia. Thereby placing age discrimination on an equal footing with other areas of discrimination.

“This is a great day,” said Commissioner (Elizabeth) Broderick. “The Age Discrimination Commissioner will be responsible for raising awareness of age discrimination, educating the community about the impact of age discrimination, and monitoring and advocating for the elimination of age discrimination across all areas of public life.”

This, in the same week as research commissioned by Leadership Management Australasia found ‘Baby boomers are the most unpopular demographic in the workplace‘. Age-old stereotypes seem to be rife in this research (of a relatively small sample of 774 workers) which speaks of mature workers being ‘inflexible’ and ‘technologically inept’.

At SageCo we beg to differ.

Our most recent 60-something ‘flexi worker’ has joined the SageCo team to contribute his wealth of knowledge, skills and experience after expressing a desire to continue working ‘longer but differently‘.  Not only does Michael fit hand in glove with the SageCo team (a diverse bunch!) but he has just introduced us to new facilitation technology which will maintain our position at the cutting edge of the ageing workforce challenge.

Read the full article here

 

, , , ,

No Comments

keeping wisdom working…

Posted by Catriona in Commentary, Media on December 7th, 2010

A refreshing report from China in Human Capital Magazine where their elderly workers are welcomed for the wisdom and experience they bring. ” Older people are also sought after for their good attitude towards work, which experts have termed “glutton for work” attitude.”

And while concerns have been raised that the older workers are not making room for the younger ones, this was quashed by Liu Changjiang – a voice of reason:

… Liu Changjiang, a senior reemployed engineer, said the elderly would not usurp the jobs of the young, as the two had different positions to occupy in the workplace matrix.

“We are not in a contest; on the contrary, we learn from each other, as old people have rich experience while youngsters are more versed in new technologies,” Liu said.

Where are your mature workers on your ‘workplace matrix’?


, ,

No Comments

active strategies required to address ageing workforce challenge

Posted by Catriona in Media on February 11th, 2010

Elizabeth Broderick is quoted in HR Leader:

“It is imperative that active strategies be developed to address the discrimination and prejudice that older workers can experience when looking for employment or even continuing in employment,” said Broderick.

We would add that employers need to implement intentional programs to address the development of workers in ‘late career’. There is a great paradox; employers will spend a large proportion of their development budget on Gen Y employees who are lucky to stay for even five years, but question investing even a small proportion of that budget on their ‘late career’ workers who may gladly work for another ten years, beyond a traditional retirement date, if they get the right support and training to do so.

In the words of Workforce Planning sage Julie Sloane:

Remember, retention first and recruitment will follow…

No Comments

GFC only a slight reprieve

Posted by Catriona in Media on February 9th, 2010

SageCo’s recent survey about the impact of the GFC on retirement and working intentions get’s some coverage in HC Magazine.

Anecdotal evidence to suggest that mature workers would hang on to their jobs and defer their retirement plans has been supported by results of a survey by ageing workforce specialists, SageCo.

, , ,

No Comments

Get Email Updates of SageCo Talk / Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS)