Older workers are generally seen as less motivated, less willing to engage in training and career development programs, more resistant to change, not as trusting, more likely to have health problems that affect their work and more vulnerable to work-family conflicts. In addition, there’s evidence older workers are likely to further stereotype themselves on the basis of what they think other people at work think of them (i.e. their perceived stereotypes). This “metastereotyping” can often be more negative than the actual stereotypes themselves.
Source: Harvard Business Review, June 20, 2016.
Today’s late career workers aren’t just hanging on until retirement. They want to make a difference and be an integral part of the workplace, but often run up against harmful stereotypes they then internalize. Organizations should support older workers by first recognizing these myths and then by reducing negative surviving experiences and increasing positive thriving ones.
INSIGHTS: We’ve spent a lot of time on millennials. This article offers good information for millennials about their older colleagues and employees.