Boomers Turn 60, Shaking Up Silver Stereotypes

Remember ring-around-the-collar? Manual credit card machines with carbon paper receipts? Bell bottoms? Frampton Comes Alive??

If those memories make you feel simultaneously nostalgic and ancient, welcome to the club. 2024 marks a milestone: the youngest Baby Boomers officially enter their 60s.

Being among the group reaching 60 this year, I still listen to the music I grew up with (from the ‘70s and ‘80s), wishing for another vintage Mustang and craving Bagel Bites.? I embrace technology, even if it’s in the form of a titanium knee replacement.?

And yet, I’m quite different from the top of the Baby Boomer generation (those born in 1946). I’m too young (if that’s a thing at 60) to recall flower-power or protesting Vietnam. I never warmed up to Bob Dylan. Gen Z-ers may wonder what a Led Zeppelin is, just as I wonder what a Doja Cat is.?

Trust me, my cohort is not entering senior centers yet. My friends and I grew up amidst economic booms and technological revolutions. We fought for equality, questioned authority and redefined "middle age."?

So, what does it mean for those of us from 1964 to hit the 60-yard line?

You need us??

Right now, there are more job openings in the U.S. than people who aren’t working; companies will struggle when their brain trust starts packing it up. There are 11 million Boomers aged 65 and older still working and I for one still have a lot more to contribute.?

The Silver Tsunami is here?

With 69 million Boomers in the U.S., healthcare, housing and workforce dynamics are in for a shake-up.? Still, COVID-19 accelerated retirement for many, leading to an increased demand for elder care services and a more flexible approach to work-life balance.

Redefining retirement

Sixty-year-olds like me are not rushing to rocking chairs and bingo nights. We aren’t slowing down. We travel, start businesses, embrace technology and actively engage in our communities. Boomers comprise 41% of small business or franchise owners, second only to Gen X, at 44%. Even for those who do retire, retirement might be more about pursuing passions than sipping lemonade on the porch.?

Workplace trends?

The Integral Index, a nationwide study of over 2,000 employees Integral conducted with the Harris Poll, shows that a few trends are worth watching. Employee well-being is the top priority among topics employed Americans aged 55+ find important at work followed by job creation and data privacy. While those of us 55+ believe we contribute to the success of our employer, fewer responded that we are encouraged as much as Gen Z to grow our careers.?

We know stuff (yet there’s plenty we don’t know) ?

Where I work now, I am among four generations (Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers). Being at a communications firm means I am surrounded by energetic, creative and big thinkers. While I have a lot of experience and bring that to bear daily, I have been humbled by the clarity and insight from early-in-career colleagues Haley Self and Trinity Griffin to bring energy and fun to work.?

Build bridges

So, what does it mean to be among four generations in a workforce? Find ways to build bridges so that we can help nurture younger workers (as opposed to offering unsolicited advice) and vice versa. There’s much to learn from one another, whether two years into your career or 30+. While we baby boomers may have helped change the world, we’re still trying to push things further at age 60 (a group that includes Courtney Cox, Lenny Kravitiz, Marissa Tomei and Stephen Colbert). The next decade promises to be an interesting ride. We'll see how 60-something Boomers continue to defy expectations and rewrite stereotypes (while buying tickets for the Doobie Brothers’ tour).?

Here's to peace, love and the occasional hip replacement.