As life spans and healthy aging have increased, people are more often choosing to work well into their 70s, 80s and beyond. There is even a significant number of centenarians still in the work force. Whether it is a financial or lifestyle choice, older workers are still vital in the workplace.
Employers view an older employee in one of two ways. One side not wanting the hassles of the older worker's lack of speed and understanding of new technology; the other side lamenting their oldest (and most productive) employees leaving their jobs for new pursuits.
Although youth may outperform age in tasks requiring speed, Sara Czaja, director of the Miami Center on Human Factors and Aging Research (funded by the National Institute on Aging) and a colleague, Joseph Sharit, Ph.D., simulated three computer-based real-life working tasks. They trained and tested 120 people ages 20 to 75 years old. Although previous computer experience was the biggest factor affecting performance, older participants were significantly slower than younger members of the study. The upside is that the older participants were more accurate.
Older employees continue to work for all sorts of reasons. They like the social interaction, or the intellectual stimulation, even the paycheck. It's nice to have science confirm that older people can contribute just as much quality to the workplace as younger employees.
Take a look at the following people who are well beyond the "normal" retirement age and the jobs that get them out of bed in the morning. Personally, I'd rather emulate one of these folks, than to accept the traditional idea of retiring from the workforce, waking up in the morning and wondering what in the world am I going to do to pass the time today. How do you envision your future?
· In 2009, Vera Lynn, maybe best known for her songs "We'll Meet Again" and "The White Cliffs of Dover," became the oldest living artist to top the UK album chart at the age of 92. The same year, her third autobiography, Some Sunny Day, was published.
· Real estate attorney Jack Borden is 101 years old and still works a 40-hour week in Weatherford, Texas.
· Sally Kellerman, who played Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the 1970 film "MASH," was last on the silver screen in 2007 at age 70. The next year she was on Ray Brown Jr.'s duets CD, Friends and Family. She released her own album, Sally, in 2009.
· Lucy Villani, 100, works as a greeter at the Trinidad, Colo., Wal Mart and has a second job at Francesca's Antiques, her daughter's store.
· At the state Capitol in Lincoln, Neb., Sally Gordon, 100, has been an assistant sergeant-at-arms for 25 years.
· Helen Thomas was the first female member and president of the White House Correspondents Association. At 89, she is still covering the White House.
