Oldies in the workforce

[shaneystar2]

There was a programme on last night about people having to probably work longer in the future before getting their pensions .
Can't think off hand what it was called but those two people from the Apprentice presented it .They put some older people back out to work !
The tradesmen seemed to get along OK but some of the others just couldn't hack it especially the former nurse who was 73 and had a job to take a blood test as she lacked dexterity in her hands and wasn't computer savvy .
Did any of you see it? Part two is tonight .
Would you put your trust in an over seventy year old plumber/nurse/electrician etc?

[ummmm]

The Town That Never Retired.

[ummmm]

I'm not sure about trusting them. People age differently.

[craft1948]

My heating engineer is knocking on a bit, but I know he's always muttering about the courses he has to go on to keep up with gas regs etc. so I do trust him (the boiler hasn't blown up yet). I wouldn't however, employ one who'd been retired and then returned to the trade.

[shaneystar2]

Yes I thought it was a bit unfair that the people chosen to take part had been out of the workforce for some time and some found it heavy going .I felt sorry for the lady who had been a nurse .I know that if I had to go and stand behind a shop counter for eight hours a day these days I just wouldn't be able to do it .

[mccfluff]

if its manual work, anf they weren;t fit enough to cope then no, but otherwise why not

[emmie]

depends on the job, perhaps not a surgeon who was getting on a bit, the hands and eyes go somewhat as you age. GP's don't see why not.

[LoftyLottie]

I couldn't hack going back to work again Shaney. Apart from not being able to cope physically, I just wouldn't react kindly to be answerable to anybody!!

I saw the programme. I think I would trust an older master craftsman, eg carpenter, probably more than a young person. Young people are faster and catch on quickly and more physically able but older workers are often more conscientious and want to do things properly in my opinion.

And no, I would trust that particular nurse, but there might be others of the same age who would be excellent.

In other words I don't think age is necessarily the criteria for the workforce. The are fit, mentally alert old people and unfit, slow young people and vice versa.

I have a husband out there today putting on our new garage roof and who is just as fit and active as he was 40 years ago. I would trust him more than some builders!

[Zeuhl]

So what are all the 70+ workers going to do?

All the builders, car mechanics, paramedics and delivery drivers etc whose bodies are showing the ill effects of 50 years of strenuous work

There is a limit to how many trolley collectors and till operators Tesco need - and aren't those jobs needed for the Graduates who can't get the jobs they really want?

[LoftyLottie]

On another note, I was surprised that Margaret from the Apprentice is only 59. I thought she was much older.

[mccfluff]

god lofty i would love you to work here, i would be in fits of laughter all day. please come and take on the sales staff

[sandyRoe]

I thought for a second the caption read: Oldies in the workhouse. And it was about the latest proposal from the tories to save a few bob.

[LoftyLottie]

Don't think a lot of those graduates and young people have the work ethic though. Please note I am not tarring them all with the same brush. But whilst older workers provide a good service and don't create problems and have good customer service skills, if I were an employer I would be happy to employ them. B&Q are well known for taking on elderly workers because they are 'customer friendly'.

Firms are going to take on who they see as being the most capable of doing the job,regardless of age.

[tamborine]

I do lose my scissors but havent found them in a head...yet

[LoftyLottie]

LOL fluffy. Open to offers, but I can't get around very quickly!!

[mccfluff]

the chairs have wheels....

[shaneystar2]

But where do you draw the line ? Someone who's had a heavy manual job for forty years is going to want to pack it in .Someone who's had a desk job could probably carry on .Although desk jobs can be stressful too .
I have visions of a seventy year old policemen puffing along trying to catch a criminal :)
And it doesn't really help younger people get on the work ladder if there's no natural wastage .
Fors and againsts I suppose .Age is just a number .
I'm looking forward to seeing how it pans out tonight

[tonyav]

Well that Margaret, bloody well looks it.

[mccfluff]

i wouldn't want to see a 70 yearold policman puffing along, but someone with that many years on the force has to have a wealth of knowledge that could be invaluable

[emmie]

no reason to mention this but i saw the shortest policeman the other day, he looked like one of the seven dwarfs. A bobby in uniform, not a PCSO, or whatever they are called. He didn't even come up to the shoulder of his not very tall female colleague.

[tonyav]

I remember when you had to be a minimum height of 6' to join the police ( male )