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Baby Boomers in the Small Business Workforce

Tristan Anwyn

April 09, 2014

As a small business owner, you're looking for employees who can contribute to your business and get the job done.

You want things to run smoothly, and you want employees who you know you can trust to value your business and treat it with care. That's where baby boomers come in.

Although many boomers are now nearing the traditional retirement age, fewer and fewer people are retiring at 65 and looking for a gold carriage clock. Instead, boomers are looking to keep working and find jobs that can teach them new things, make use of their skills, and provide extra financial support.

These experienced workers aged 50 and upwards, can be a valuable asset to any small business, bringing skills and life experience that complement the verve of younger employees.

What can baby boomers do for your business? And how can you make the most of their skills?

Experienced and Loyal Employees

Baby boomers have a wealth of life and work experience under their belts. Many of them are well-qualified with impressive business experience behind them.

As a whole, baby boomers are a loyal and reliable workforce that tend to stick with their employers, and who thrive on being given clear objectives.

Being more grounded and steady in their approach makes baby boomers a natural choice to become mentors to your younger millennial workers.

A survey by MTV on younger workers found that 75% of millennials yearn for a mentor in the workplace - baby boomers are well qualified to fill that position, having not only the necessary experience but a genuine desire to share it. Baby boomers don't require such constant feedback and will get on with the job at hand.

What does that mean for your business?

The two generations are a winning combination for your work force, blending the involvement and sociability of millennials with the knowledge and work ethic of the boomers.

Flexible and Savvy Workers

There's a misconception among some employers that baby boomers are not tech savvy and will struggle with newer technology.

In fact, 75% of boomers use the internet regularly for social contact, research, and downloading movies and music. Boomers are the generation who made up the majority of the work force when technology started coming into its own and increasing in importance.

They were at the forefront then, and with a little support and the opportunity, they can embrace and work with new technologies just as effectively now.

Boomers have lived and worked through a lot of changes in the last three or four decades, making them more open to change than stereotyping might suggest.

When given the opportunity to engage with and understand change, boomers are likely to ask questions, get involved, and help your company going forward.

If you still worry that boomers won't take to technology as well, remember that Bill Gates and the late Steve Jobs both belong to that generation!

Looking After Your Boomers

From genuinely enjoyable team building exercises to degrees to keep baby boomers working, there are a number of things you as an employer can do to keep your baby boomer workers engaged with your business and aims:

• Provide flexibility - many boomers are not looking for full time work. Part time, flexible hours, telecommuting or jobs focused on a specific project can all provide flexibility;
• Education - boomers are life-long learners and appreciate the chance for further study and to hone their skills to improve their careers;
• Team building - the chance to bond with other members and learn more about what is expected benefits employees of all ages;
• Set goals - boomers are goal oriented, so set clear objectives and link your training and team building to those.

Baby boomers are a rich resource for your small business and an investment in your future.

Age really is just a number when it comes to these experienced and dedicated workers, so if you want your small business to run smoothly, reach out to the boomer generation as well as their younger counterparts.

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