The latest workplace trend is the “great unretirement” — people in their 60s who either return to work after retiring, or never leave their jobs at all.
“As younger people find new ways to work, a gap in traditional employment needs to be filled — and 'unretirees' are stepping back into the workforce. Some are returning to work out of necessity, while others simply miss having a job to go to,” says ManpowerGroup South Africa MD Lyndy van den Barselaar.
She advises:
- As the global population ages, mainly due to people living longer and declining birth rates, a larger proportion of the population is made up of people older than 60; there are significantly more older people than there were 70 years ago and this trend will continue;
- For many, retirement means less social activity, which is one of the reasons people rejoin the workforce after retirement;
- For companies, having older employees provides an excellent pool of mentors for younger members of staff. To make this work, however, organisations must create inclusive and fair environments that engage a range of generations; and
- Most organisations understand that younger generations expect different things from work than their older colleagues do. Understanding the needs of older workers will help to make them feel welcome. Companies can consider providing more accessible work stations, better lighting and larger fonts in documents, for example.
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