Overview
The workplace is evolving as the baby boomer generation redefines the concept of the modern worker. As this segment of workers approach their 50s and 60s, businesses and governments worldwide are starting to realize that they will lose a large number of their most valuable employees to retirement. As a result, organizations in all industries are beginning to explore the possibility that new technology and processes can extend the career life of these employees and allow workers to continue to perform at their potential.
The implications of aging on business are staggering. By 2010, businesses will suffer a shortage of critical talent in the millions if they fail to take action now. A number of trends - including a lack of sufficient replacement workers and a decrease in the number of students graduating college with "high-skill" science and technology degrees-have significantly increased the competition for globally mobile talent.
With so much hanging in the balance, companies will need to develop a strategy for the future. The first step is to assess the impact of aging on the workforce. Assessment starts by asking the right questions:
- Who may leave?
- What is the business risk and potential impact?
- When will this happen?
- How should we respond?
Armed with the answers to these questions, companies can develop a course of action that includes ideas such as knowledge management and unique technology solutions (simulators, advisory systems, accessibility technology, etc). Finally, execution of these new business ideas and structures is essential to help maintain and promote cooperation from the workforce.
Another issue employers must consider is accommodating for disabilities, which often occur as a natural result of the aging process. The National Eye Institute predicts that "the number of visually impaired Americans age 40 and over - including the blind - is expected to jump two-thirds in the next two decades." In addition, 30 percent of women and 47 percent of men over 65 years of age have difficulty hearing.
One way to support maturing workers who have age-related disabilities is to find new ways to increase their comfort level and ability to use technology. For many organizations, the answer is accessibility - the development and integration of structures, systems, tools, and processes that facilitate the inclusion of more people - irrespective of their age, abilities or personal challenges. By making IT more accessible, companies will find they can extend the careers of maturing workers while enhancing their productivity.
IBM strives to aid companies in developing solutions to accommodate the maturing workforce, as well as prolong and increase productivity. When California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) approached IBM to help improve the accessibility of their Web sites and Web applications for students and faculty with disabilities, IBM responded with a solution that included providing IBM WebAdapt2Me on public access computer terminals and home computers. The solution maximized the usability of Web applications for students with disabilities. In another example, IBM helped a North American financial institution develop a strategy to improve the accessibility of key applications to increase ease-of-access for employees. IBM addressed this bank's challenge by conducting accessibility workshops and proposing the creation of accessibility policies and standards for training and application development. By creating standardized processes, the bank was able to significantly reduce the cost to support employees with disabilities. IBM also helped Mitsukoshi Department Stores, one of Japan's oldest and largest retailers, create an accessible Web site using IBM Easy Web Browsing. Mitsukoshi is confident that the development of their accessible Web site will help boost online sales, improve the business's public image, and increase overall customer satisfaction.
Ultimately, as CSULB, the North American financial institution, and Mitsukoshi Department Stores could likely attest, the modern workforce is changing. To remain competitive, businesses and governments worldwide must evolve and adapt by creating strategies that maximize the potential of every worker, regardless of their age or physical abilities. IBM believes that accessibility can play a critical role in helping companies maximize the skills and knowledge of maturing employees, while creating a meaningful connection to younger generations of workers.