The new COVID normal. What we want to do for our mature age workforce and not only for them!
Maike Schroeder
Director at Maikereer I Career Coaching I Career Transition I Career Management I Mature Age Transition I Facilitation I Executive Coaching
The new COVID normal. What does that actually mean? We are about to find out here in Melbourne, now that we are allowed to go back to the office. We have learnt that mature age workers busted the myth of not being able to adjust to new technologies or significant changes and challenges. In fact, I feel that in the past 7 months the multi-generations have been working together much better and showed that they benefit from each other when they collaborate. How can we make sure that we continue to live a modern workplace where a fluid, casual and flexible work-life balance is encouraged? Here are some tips:
· Consider implementing a mature age strategy plan for your workforce, present it to your leadership team – let them be part of the solution.
· When hiring mature age staff, adjust your job descriptions or recruitment ads accordingly and you may want to consider taking on (more) freelancers.
· Provide the ability to be flexible with their own schedule.
· Provide the freedom to work remotely so they can attend doctors' appointments, family events, and other personal issues. Instead of focusing on hours in the office, we should turn our focus towards deliverables and outcomes.
· Encourage your mature age workers to become mentors to Gen X, millennials or other generations within your organisation. Not every person might a good mentor but give it a thought.
· Increase your collaboration and provide informal feedback more often instead of the annual performance review. Encourage them to think about their future.
· Streamline your process for communication and avoid complicated approval processes.
· A good work-life balance is the most important aspect for millennials when accepting a job. Millennials put a bigger emphasis on their personal interests than their older counterparts and companies that are looking to acquire and keep millennial talent must offer good work-life balance and flexibility.
· Last but not least, embrace and encourage the use of new technologies and provide training according to the various needs of your employees.
Every worker is important in the new COVID normal and as Dr Kay Patterson, Age Discrimination Commissioner, said the other day: 'We hear that mature age strategies are not as important, but the procedures you put in place right now, will form the culture of tomorrow. And one day you will benefit from it!'
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4 年I agree Maike. And the benefits to both ways and are great for any work environment.
Client Relationship | Partnerships | Operations | Leadership and Executive Coach | For Purpose Board Director | Business Development | Career Transition | Career Management | Diplomacy | Multilateral Negotiations
4 年Thanks Maike. On point as always. I saw a news clip yesterday of a young woman in Melbourne interviewed about the relaxed COVID restrictions and who said she cried when she could go out and get a coffee. It would be too easy to make light of that when really we know that many people have suffered in ways we know little of at the moment and, importantly, we need to let everyone tell their own story about being isolated. Returning to the office is going to take careful handling and managers and leaders need to ensure they have the 'tools' to be able to cope with what they are about to face.
Owner at Sundew Therapies I Reflexologist I Aromatic Kinesiology ? facilitator I Women's Mental Health I Health & Well-Being | Personalised essential oil blends
4 年Thank you for this interesting article. Great food for thought and yes one day we will all be of mature age. Better use all that knowledge wisely and collaborate.