Excerpted from an SHRM Blog by Paul Wolfe
Age and experience are often viewed as measures of knowledge. However, it’s not always that simple or straightforward. The young tech leader in a hoodie is still a prevalent stereotype.
A recent study by Indeed finds that close to half of employees in the technology industry (46 percent) are Millennials. Further, as firms battle to attract young talent with perks like happy hours, free food, and gym classes, they may unintentionally create an environment and culture that excludes or alienates older workers.
With the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting that 25 percent of workers will be at least 55 years old by 2019, it’s clear that the tech industry workforce doesn’t reflect the age diversity of the working population. And we know that diversity has a positive impact on companies, with some studies finding that firms with greater racial or gender equality enjoyed more sales revenue, more customers and greater profits.
While companies currently (and rightfully) spend a lot of time and effort on cultural, religious and gender-focused diversity initiatives, addressing diversity of ages and generations is a natural next step.
Read the full post here.