Ageism in the workplace continues to be a serious issue because of many negative stereotypes pinned on older employees.  Nearly 25% of workers over 45 have been the target of negative comments regarding their age.  Additionally, 76% of these workers see their age as an impediment toward finding a new job.

On the other hand, many young individuals hoping to enter the workforce are intimidated because they aren’t as experienced as other applicants or employees.  This leaves only a handful of “suitable” candidates in the “right” age range, and the company using such a focused lens risks missing the perfect person for a particular job.

For a truly diverse work environment, DE&I initiatives must combat ageist obstacles. 

There are numerous benefits to considering various ages as an advantage in your workplace, including:

Broader Levels of Experience

With employees of various ages, you’ll have people with a wide range of experience.  Seasoned workers will have their fair share of time in the industry and know how to handle the trade, or they may have experience in another sector and can apply their expertise to your brand.  Less experienced employees will be eager to learn, and you’ll be able to train them hands-on to perform their new job without previous experiences getting in the way.

Fostering Mentorships Between Workers

Since younger workers will be enthusiastic about gaining more experience and working their way up in a company, you can encourage mentorships with more experienced workers.  When a veteran employee takes a new recruit under their wing and offers them training and knowledge on how to succeed, the new employee will thrive and feel loyal to your company.  Mentorships offer a natural way to strengthen workplace bonds and build a community that people will want to stay a part of.

Enhanced Potential for Innovation

You’ll have the opportunity to explore fresh ideas and scale faster when multigenerational perspectives are brought to the table.  If everyone on your team comes from the same background and has the same level of experience, they’re only going to see an issue from a single perspective.  But if there are multiple perspectives, you’ll end up with a kaleidoscope of ideas for innovation and development. 

Finding Qualified Candidates of All Ages

To discover the right candidates for your work environment, you’ll need a comprehensive DE&I initiative to help you create a diverse workplace.  Elite Personnel can help you find qualified candidates of all ages and backgrounds for your new and open positions. 

Our team is dedicated to helping your brand’s DE&I efforts by attracting and recruiting the best applicants of every age, race, gender, and origin. 

Contact our recruiting pros today to help combat ageism in your organization and hire great staff today!