The coming shortage of younger workers may be old news, but some
companies, including Borders Group, are recruiting and seeking to
retain older employees in part because they have qualities that make
them more attractive than some of their younger colleagues, according
to the Detroit News. Borders has even been recognized by the AARP for its approach.
Older workers tend to be highly dependable, less likely to switch jobs and more likely to arrive at work on time. Borders senior v-p of human resources Dan Smith told the paper that older workers also make good booksellers, "pointing out that half of all books sold are to people older than over the age of 45. It is just 'human nature,' he said, for people to want to buy from someone who is like them."
One current Borders employee profiled in the story was hired at age 50 after spending most of her life overseas with her Foreign Service husband. The company considered her experience with cultural groups a form of customer service. "Going to the store and getting the books out was like opening up presents on Christmas morning every day," she told the paper. Working for the bookseller is now all in the family: the woman's husband, retired from the Foreign Service, now works as an administrative assistant to two Borders directors.
Borders has been flexible about scheduling, too, so much so that it even offers a snowbird program, allowing an older employee to work in Michigan in the summer and in Florida in the winter.
Older workers tend to be highly dependable, less likely to switch jobs and more likely to arrive at work on time. Borders senior v-p of human resources Dan Smith told the paper that older workers also make good booksellers, "pointing out that half of all books sold are to people older than over the age of 45. It is just 'human nature,' he said, for people to want to buy from someone who is like them."
One current Borders employee profiled in the story was hired at age 50 after spending most of her life overseas with her Foreign Service husband. The company considered her experience with cultural groups a form of customer service. "Going to the store and getting the books out was like opening up presents on Christmas morning every day," she told the paper. Working for the bookseller is now all in the family: the woman's husband, retired from the Foreign Service, now works as an administrative assistant to two Borders directors.
Borders has been flexible about scheduling, too, so much so that it even offers a snowbird program, allowing an older employee to work in Michigan in the summer and in Florida in the winter.