Age Works: What Corporate America Must Do to Survive the Graying of the Workforce

by Beverly Goldberg

Book Overview

In ten years, the massive baby-boom generation will begin to reach retirement age, but few companies have paid attention to the fact that there are not enough younger workers to replace them. The... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684857596
• ISBN13: 9780684857596
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Age Works

If managers think they have problems attracting and retaining human capital in today's economy, they haven't seen anything yet. Get set for the massive wave of retirements over the next ten (10) years. Beverly Goldberg conveys a compelling picture of why managers need to learn the value of recognizing, retraining, and retaining older workers. Age Works is a wakeup call to those caught up in the wastefulness of our "throw away" society. Older workers are a precious resource that can ill afford to be squandered. Ms. Goldberg demonstrates a better path and presents concrete ways for managers to benefit from the graying of America.

Graying Means Payoff

For a decade we've heard a steady chorus of despair about the graying of America--that graying means paying, in the words of one leading credit. Beverly Goldberg, in this carefully researched, tightly argued, fluidly written, and ultimately extremely important book, shows us a different path. She demonstrates that older Americans are a potential boon to the economy and to the bottom line of forward thinking companies. She shows that they are a group that brings considerable experience and great stability to those that will make use of their talents. And she supplies a roadmap for how we can get there--as indivuals, as companies, and as a society. A great read and a great contribution to the growing body of literature about navigating what may well be the great demographic transition in our country's history, the aging of America.

Powerful ideas re: the aging workplace

Since the idea of totally retiring is not something that appeals to me, I found the suggestions for building different kinds of flexible work arrangements very thought-provoking. The numbers in the first couple of chapters will help build a compelling case for allowing those who want such arrangements to have them. I also found the stories of those who wanted out fascinating-they are an indictment of companies for the ways they handled downsizing and mergers. It clearly is time for all businesses to rethink their dealings with the people who work for them and to reconsider the value of older workers.

The Value of Aging

I found the book particularly valuable because it not only presents the reasons why companies must persuade older workers to remain in the work force but it provides concrete suggestions for alternative work arrangements that will make older workers willing to stay on. Its suggestions for retraining and examples of companies that have retrained older workers successfully are very persuasive and useful. Thanks, Beverly Goldberg, for highlighting this untapped resource!Sarah Ritchie Project Manager Social Security Network

Age Works -- A Great Work

We've all heard how the population is getting older. So what? So read Beverly Goldberg's book to find out. Containing well-researhed chapters, the book avoids any tone of panic while it carefully demonstrates some of the stark realities confronting society in the future. In short, companies and managers are going to have to change. They won't be able to shun older workers because of an "ageism" bias (which happens frequently now!) and they won't be able to ignore the needs of older workers (work hours, special training, ergonomics) because they falsely believe "they're expendible."But the book is more than a primer on old-age workers; it is also a challenge to what we think are the rules for "retirement." Goldberg shows that there is a silver lining to a graying population. She shows both workers and corporations that there are other ways to retire than abandoning the workforce. Read her prescriptions for new flexible work arrangements and you'll even start to re-think your own plans for retiring.Whether digging into the policy dimensions -- or the personal ones -- Goldberg's book is a shake-up call for anyone getting older or managing people who are getting older. Look in the mirror and you'll quickly note that the book was written for people just like you!