Sir, – Employers should review their recruitment policies.
Currently a significant number of older persons, including baby boomers, are physically and mentally capable and amenable to work.
So what are the benefits?
For the employer there is a significant saving in employer’s PRSI for those they employ over age 66. The rate is 0.5 per cent as opposed to up to many times that for younger people.
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Additionally such people bring to the workplace immense experience, knowledge and interpersonal skills. They can mentor and encourage less experienced workers.
They have often less domestic demands with families reared and work-life balance needs are more work flexible.
For employers whose customers and clients are elderly, dealing with a person of similar age is frequently preferably.
Advancement expectations are also remarkably different to younger persons, given their stage in life, so they are not necessarily seeking promotional opportunities
For the older people the advantage may include being valued, having a lost work identity and supplementing a small and diminishing pension which runs foul of inflation. – Yours, etc,
TONY BRISCOE,
Portmarnock,
Dublin 13.