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Story
July 26, 1954
Trainman News
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
What is this article about?
US and UK address older worker issues: US Labor Secretary Mitchell initiates study on age discrimination in hiring; UK firms adapt policies, retaining capable seniors with proven reliability and low absenteeism, valuing experience.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Older Worker
Problem Is
Being Studied
Both the United States and the United Kingdom are studying the specific problems of the older worker.
Secretary of Labor James Mitchell, of the United States, in an announcement last month stated "The Older worker is a primary labour resource of this country" and when instructing a committee to study the problem the secretary said he wanted them to "round up what is being done in connection with the problem of the older worker, study it and suggest what ought to be done."
Surveys by the Department have indicated that the hiring policies of many firms reflect a prejudice against workers who are over 45. Some even set age limits for women as low as 35 years.
Most employers give as their main reason for not hiring older workers the effect such hiring has on pension and insurance programs.
The committee will investigate the best methods of persuading employers to accept the older worker on the basis of his qualifications for the job and not reject him merely because of his age.
In the United Kingdom more than 500 firms have modified their employment regulations for older people.
As an example a shipbuilding and repairing concern have no fixed retirement age, provided the workers remain capable of carrying out their duties. The firm has 24 manual workers of 60 years of age, 80 over 65 and 48 over 70.
Another firm employing more than 2,700 employees have 324 over 60 and 780 over 50 years of age, and 104 workers who are handicapped.
A recent survey showed that 75.8 per cent of these older workers have fewer absences than younger people. They compare favourably with the younger associates in work output.
Most of the older employees are persons who were forced to retire at a certain age at other firms. They are not separated as a group and all employees work a full eight hour day.
The fact that a person's age is judged by a man made calendar and not by his physical and mental abilities is fast losing support in scientific circles. It is a truthful and well known axiom that "the more extensive a man's knowledge of what has been done, the greater will be his power of knowing what to do when called upon to face certain problems."
Nothing can take the place of experience.
Problem Is
Being Studied
Both the United States and the United Kingdom are studying the specific problems of the older worker.
Secretary of Labor James Mitchell, of the United States, in an announcement last month stated "The Older worker is a primary labour resource of this country" and when instructing a committee to study the problem the secretary said he wanted them to "round up what is being done in connection with the problem of the older worker, study it and suggest what ought to be done."
Surveys by the Department have indicated that the hiring policies of many firms reflect a prejudice against workers who are over 45. Some even set age limits for women as low as 35 years.
Most employers give as their main reason for not hiring older workers the effect such hiring has on pension and insurance programs.
The committee will investigate the best methods of persuading employers to accept the older worker on the basis of his qualifications for the job and not reject him merely because of his age.
In the United Kingdom more than 500 firms have modified their employment regulations for older people.
As an example a shipbuilding and repairing concern have no fixed retirement age, provided the workers remain capable of carrying out their duties. The firm has 24 manual workers of 60 years of age, 80 over 65 and 48 over 70.
Another firm employing more than 2,700 employees have 324 over 60 and 780 over 50 years of age, and 104 workers who are handicapped.
A recent survey showed that 75.8 per cent of these older workers have fewer absences than younger people. They compare favourably with the younger associates in work output.
Most of the older employees are persons who were forced to retire at a certain age at other firms. They are not separated as a group and all employees work a full eight hour day.
The fact that a person's age is judged by a man made calendar and not by his physical and mental abilities is fast losing support in scientific circles. It is a truthful and well known axiom that "the more extensive a man's knowledge of what has been done, the greater will be his power of knowing what to do when called upon to face certain problems."
Nothing can take the place of experience.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Misfortune
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Older Workers
Hiring Prejudice
Labor Policy
Retirement Age
Employment Survey
What entities or persons were involved?
James Mitchell
Where did it happen?
United States, United Kingdom
Story Details
Key Persons
James Mitchell
Location
United States, United Kingdom
Story Details
The US and UK study problems of older workers; US Secretary Mitchell forms committee to combat hiring prejudices against those over 45 due to pension concerns; UK firms modify policies, employing many over 60 with low absences and good output, emphasizing experience over age.