Businesses in the UK are missing out by not asking older workers to innovate or work in new ways, according to research by global HR consultancy BlessingWhite. The survey revealed that half of 55 to 64 year olds, and nearly two-thirds of those 65 and over, would feel inspired if asked to innovate at work. Yet over forty per cent of 45 to 64 year olds, and over half of those over 65, say they are never asked to innovate in the workplace.
It seems business is barking up the wrong tree by asking young, and hopefully dynamic, 25 to 34 year olds to be innovative. Despite 31 per cent saying they are regularly asked this group only ranked fourth in terms of how inspired they are by the challenge of innovation. In contrast, those aged 35-44 (68 per cent), 45 - 54 (62 per cent) and 65 plus (65 per cent) were most motivated by such requests.
BlessingWhite's research is echoed by a recent HeyDay study which reported fifty-eight per cent of workers in their 50s and 60s wanted to carry on after 65, and 10 per cent do not want to retire at all.
While older workers could, and want to, innovate a third of younger respondents -those aged 16-24 - simply don't know what it means in a work context. This is possibly because 63 per cent are never, or hardly ever, asked to be innovative. This is a real shame when 53 per cent would actually feel inspired if they were asked.
Tom Barry, managing director of BlessingWhite, Europe, points out that many businesses already have the potential innovators they crave - they just don't know it yet. He comments: With creativity and innovation so highly prized and relentlessly pursued by business in every sector, these findings should be a call to action for organisations that are currently ignoring the innovative talents of their older and younger staff. Workers over 45 have the most experience to draw upon, and are the most receptive age group when asked to innovate.
What's also disturbing is fact that many young people don't seem to know what innovation means. This is the next generation of front-line workers, already flowing into the workplace. We need to take responsibility for this deficit and ensure that the under 30s are equipped to contribute to innovation, and not left out in the cold. Encouraging these workers' innovative instincts makes sense, especially with the 'older' workforce an impending reality.
BlessingWhite's survey was conducted amongst 500 respondents aged 16 to 65 plus in full or part time work within the UK.
Old dogs ready to teach new tricks
Employers ignore older workers' potential for innovation
