Educational Department, Part 2
Sound Doctrine
Older Generation Teach Younger
MYTH 7: OLDER WORKERS ARE LESS PRODUCTIVE THAN YOUNGER ONES
This myth, based on misconceptions about the aging process and the employment of older people, is often raised by proponents of mandatory retirement. This argument assumes that older persons as a group may be less well suited for work than are younger workers because older people do not learn new skills as well as younger persons do, older workers are more inflexible with respect to changes in work schedules and regimens, and declining physical and mental capacities are found in greater proportion among older persons.
These arguments are not based on fact. Many studies indicate that older workers produce a quality of work equal or superior to that of younger workers. In addition, as we have already indicated, there is no reason to expect a decline in intellectual capacities with age, and there is every reason to assume that older workers in good health are capable of learning new skills when circumstances require it. Many workers can continue to work effectively beyond age sixty-five and may be better employees than younger workers because of greater experience and job commitment.