Recruiting and Retaining Baby Boomers: A Business Essential

When recruiting employees for your organization, it’s important to keep in mind the benefits of having a diverse age range in your staff.  People are living longer today than decades ago, and due to the need for more financial security, along with the desire to relieve boredom and have a sense of purpose, they are retiring later, if at all.  This can be a benefit to hiring managers, since it gives them a wider talent pool to choose from.  So along with millennials and Generation X employees, make sure you are putting enough effort into recruiting and retaining Baby Boomers for your organization.  Baby boomers were born between the years 1946 and 1964, so they range from age 53 to 71.   For more information on Baby Boomers in the workforce, check out the infographic below:

Benefits of Recruiting Baby Boomers

Below are some of the benefits your organization will gain from recruiting Baby Boomers:

• Since they have been in the workforce longer than younger generations, they have gained more business knowledge and experience with people.  They can help mentor your younger employees, and offer different viewpoints on aspects of your business such as customer service, marketing, human resources and manufacturing.
• They are known for their loyalty and work ethic.  By recruiting baby boomers, you are gaining employees that are likely to stick with your company, not jump ship the second a better-looking opportunity presents itself.
• Baby boomers have undergone more changes in society and the workforce that have forced them to adapt and learn new ways of doing things.  While they didn’t grow up in the age of technology like millennials did, many baby boomers are quite tech-savvy.  This shows their ability to learn new things and adjust to changes that occur in your business. When recruiting baby boomers, you can feel secure knowing that they will be able to grow with your company.

Tips for Recruiting and Retaining Baby Boomers

To have success recruiting and retaining Baby Boomers, here are a few tips:

• Many baby boomers are attracted to companies that have a positive reputation and are financially secure.  Be sure to make the successes of your company clear in your job ads and give job seekers access to resources that can confirm your company’s good reputation.
• To accommodate the needs of older workers, make sure your healthcare and retirement benefits can fulfill the needs of this generation.
• Show that you appreciate their past experience and knowledge baby boomers have gained from decades in the workforce.  Give them opportunities to share their wisdom with others in the organization and assign them projects that allow them to put their skillset to good use.
• Don’t assume that just because baby boomers have been in the workforce longer, they aren’t looking for opportunities for growth.  When recruiting Baby Boomers, make it clear you want to help them develop their career and ask what opportunities they want available to them.
• Also, similar to millennials, many baby boomers desire flexible work options.  Since they have been in the workforce a number of years, they enjoy having a life outside of work.