He says seasoned employees' strength lies in their knowledge of the company, the friendships they were able to establish. Despite the shining opportunities, some seniors still complain about discrimination. It's still twice as difficult for people 50 years and older to get interviews than for the younger folks, observers say. And some say greedy companies may take advantage of seniors' willingness to work for less money. Hiring older workers makes economic sense.
Retirees have the experience and the eagerness to work.
And they often come with pensions from former employers and face fewer financial pressures, their children through with college. U.Net, a Norwalk, Conn., the networking and career information organization for senior executives. As a result, even if they don't learn as quickly as younger workers and may not be as technologically well versed, their experience and intimate knowledge of corporate culture amply make up for the deficiencies, experts say. Elderly workers are a hot commodity across the board at a time of labor shortage and changing economy, for high-level management positions as well as very specialized tasks ranging from accounting to financial planning. They're really performing, their work ethic is very strong.