The oldest employee at Google, yet one of the largest companies in the world, is over the age of eighty. Age is irrelevant to Google. According to Google, an applicant will be assessed solely on his knowledge and experience. At IDEO, another high-tech company in Silicon Valley, the oldest employee is a woman of 91 years. She provides the company a lot of knowledge and insights that can not be supplied by younger colleagues.
It's regrettable that not all companies recognize this value of older people. Last month I saw a Dutch TV program about unemployment among over 50s, which made me sad. I often think about it. What's the case?
25% of the unemployed in the EU is over 50, but in the Netherlands it's even 40%. The program shows that this high percentage is due to the negative image of older people. Many employers think that older workers are slower, less productive and more often sick than their younger colleagues. The title of the TV program was therefore '10 youngsters instead of you', because - based on those prejudices - employers prefer to hire young people.
The prejudices of employers are firmly debunked by the TV program. Statistics show that older workers are certainly not more often sick than their younger colleagues. Research also shows that older workers become even more productive. The persistent misperception, however, ensures that the prejudices persist. It's an image that.s originated in times gone by. But society has changed significantly and the people over 50 has changed with it. That realization didn't yet reach all employers and human resource managers.
That's such a shame. Companies can and should - like Google en IDEO - make a better use of the knowledge, experience and insights of older workers. The average age is rising and we retire later. Yet companies do not adapt to these developments because they are stuck in their own prejudices. This makes that fun, energetic and capable people over 50 do not find a job.
It should work the other way around. I recently heard the following quote from writer/actress Annabelle Gurwitch (54), who chose for a different approach. She mentions her age clearly visible on her business card for the following reason:
'When I see a restaurant that's in business for more than half a century, I think: Wow, that restaurant must be good! Why should this be different for employees?'
She nailed it!
The over 50s has changed... now it's time for employers to do the same!
Photo: Annabelle Gurwitch by Jason Frank Rothenberg
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