The issues surrounding the aging of our workforce in the US continue to be a big concern for many companies. The workforce is aging at a high rate of speed and the need for services related to the population aged 65 and older are on the rise.
According to the U.S. Administration on Aging, the number of adults over the age of 65 will reach 40 million by 2010. The number will increase by 75 percent to 71 million by 2030.
"During the first half of 2007, we have experienced a 30% increase in requests regarding eldercare services compared to the same period last year, says August Stieber, National Sales Director of Bensinger, DuPont & Associates, a national EAP (Employee Assistance Program) firm. "We expect requests for this type of service to continue to increase as the workforce ages.
According to Stieber, the aging workforce creates a number of concerns for employers, such as:
" Flexibility in job schedule (Rush hour and transportation can be an issue for the aging population).
" Job share (Some employees can only work limited hours or it takes away other retirement benefits they may be living on).
" Benefits for part-time workers.
" Revamping Traditional Benefits to meet the needs of the aging workforce. This raises the question "Do traditional benefits meet the needs of an aging population traditional benefits like Life Insurance, Disability Plans, 401(k)s and Medical Insurance may have limited or no appeal to this population.
There are a variety of steps employers can take to better prepare their organizations for the aging workforce. These include:
" Develop committees, focus groups, and leadership resources that can give your companies workforce insight and direction in the coming years.
" Track organizations that represent the mainstream issues for the aging population like AARP.
" Look to your Employee Assistance Program for trends in your company's population. Many times EAP experience can identify issues and trends before company officials. Many EAPs offer consultation and training services to help employees with issues that arise during the aging process.
Bensinger DuPont & Associates is a privately owned professional services company that is dedicated to promoting healthy outcomes for employees, the workplace, individuals and their families through a wide range of consultation, training and counseling services
