The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) are warning that SME’s are not gearing up to make the most of an ageing workforce.
Dianah Worman, public policy advisor at CIPD, said:
“Employers are currently missing a trick by not offering flexible working to all employees and by not adapting to the changing needs of a changing ageing workforce. Healthcare, provision for employees with caring responsibilities – these are just some of the many things SMEs need to be thinking about now to prepare for the future.
“Failure to do so could mean they miss out on the full range of talent available, putting their business at a serious competitive disadvantage.”
The abolition of statutory retirement, delayed pension commencement dates and employees able, willing and in some cases needing to work beyond the traditional retirement age, all mean the range of people on offer is increasingly diverse, but only 25% of those businesses responding to the CIPD survey had ever employed a mature or ageing workforce.
With the widening gap between house prices and averages salaries in the Chichester area, the likelihood is the local workforce will include more mature workers in the coming years as they settle in Chichester having left their career roles elsewhere. The skills and talent they will bring with them can be of considerable benefit to local firms and the economy but employers must adapt and be increasingly flexible if they want to attract that talent pool and benefit from their often considerable experience.