Page 20 - May-June 2023 REPORTER - web optimzed

WHY HIRE

older workers?

anaging Human Resources has become positions which have flexibile schedules don’t really know what it is to be committed
Mone of the biggest challenges in the or part-time hours. Now that the pandemic to a job.”
lumber and building materials field. Is your has abated, many workers want to engage A number of older workers feel they still
business currently having difficulty with with people. Part-time positions give them have a lot to give to the roles. Many feel that
staff? Finding, hiring, and keeping employees flexibility but keep them active. Some former talking to people keeps them young. The extra
in a role that is not often thought of as a white-collar workers toiling from home miss money is helpful as well. According to the USA
career is more difficult than ever. Roles which the social interaction of an office. Older Today survey, 55% of retirees who work said
traditionally have been filled by students workers use retail employment as a way to fill that the main reason they do so is financial
during summer busy seasons have been a the missing social network. need.
problem to fill since the pandemic. Once you According to Deputy, a firm which makes Are retirees the answer to all the hiring
have hired a student it is sometimes difficult employee scheduling software, baby boomers problems in the retail lumber and building
to ensure that they show up for their shifts. (ages 59 to 77) made up 23% of all shifts in materials industry? In a nutshell, no. But older
What can managers do to find competent, 2022. This was up from 20% in 2020. Better workers can, if managed correctly, fill some
reliable staff? One approach which should be communication with the customer is one of important schedule gaps. They are a work
considered is hiring older workers. the benefits of older workers. They also bring force that has been under utilized, and bring
Older workers are looking at jobs which more experience to these roles. They “tend to a load of benefits to the workplace. You may
have traditionally been thought of as entry be more dependable, displaying higher levels want to keep them in mind when looking to
level positions in increasing numbers. Many of punctuality, lower absenteeism and less fill positions.
seniors are seeking additional cash to cope inclination toward job hopping,” says Silvija
with inflation. Others are interested in retail Martincevic, CEO of Deputy. “Younger workers

20 LBMAO Reporter - May-June 2023 www.lbmao.on.ca