They may need to read instructions more than once or take a sick day now and then. They will require larger type on their computer screen. That doesn't mean their output is worse. It's just different. Young people have high energy and speed.
Older people have wisdom and perspective.
Diana Ensign, a former elder-care specialist at Ceridian Corp. , urges employers to harvest the institutional memory of older workers by having them mentor new or young employees. Attitudes are starting to change. When Steve Brodersen opened a temporary staffing agency for senior workers in 1987, personnel managers at Twin Cities companies didn't grasp the concept. Now clients such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and ADC Telecommunications are hiring temporary senior workers for clerical, accounting and light packaging work. They're also willing to let older workers share jobs or work flexible hours.