Society for Human Resource Management of Tompkins County

Workplace 2020; Baby Boomers and Beyond

Tues, Oct 18, 2011
8:00-10:30am
Country Club of Ithaca

The most recent recession and current state of the job market have spooked many older workers into deferring retirement. Social security, debt-ceiling and healthcare debates, measly investment and stock market returns, gas prices and the uncertain economy is sending the more mature workforce a clear message: don’t retire yet. Since the mid-1980s increasing numbers of older men and women have kept working. The labor force participation rate for men age 65 has risen 43 percent over the past quarter century. For women 65 and older, the participation rate has nearly doubled over the same period, to 13.4 percent in June 2011. What are local organization and business demographics and trends in Tompkins County? How are our workforces changing and adjusting to this shift?

As human resource professionals and businesses, we need to understand the resulting workplace implications. We’ve pulled together resources, demographic research, best practices, web sites and a panel of local employers to discuss how they are managing mature workers today and in the future.

The U.S. economy hasn’t done well at creating jobs for younger and older workers alike, let alone jobs with decent pay and benefits. Jobs remain scarce 26 months after the recession was declared officially over; the U.S. unemployment rate is at 9.2 percent. In response to the labor market’s supply and demand, many employers fluctuate between a focus on recruiting talent and lean approaches to the current recession fall out. How are you balancing the current picture with future workplace needs? Do you have meaningful metrics in place that capture demographics and labor market trends as part of an overall strategic plan for recruitment, hiring and retention? Are you adjusting current practices to both attract new hires and to retain individuals with “institutional knowledge and experience” in light of future worker shortages? How do you ensure that you have the employees and the leadership needed in 2020? How will your business or organization stay ahead of the curve?

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Join Robert Bantle, Diane Bradac, Mark Coldren, Linda Croll-Howell, Christian Harris, Lisa Holmes and Alan Pederson on Tues, October 18^th at the Country Club of Ithaca for a co-sponsored session called Workplace 2020; Baby Boomers and Beyond.

Prior to the session, recognition awards in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) will be presented by Dot Marinaccio, Regional Workforce Development and Business Relations Coordinator.

The session will run from 8:00-10:30 and registration is required in advance. The session fee is $20.00 to be paid in advance or at the session (SHRM-TC members are free). SHRM-TC is handling registration at: http://www.shrmtc.org