SMART STAGE: Older Work Myths and Facts
A significant percentage of today’s workforce is made up of older workers – those 50 and older – and that percentage will grow even larger over the next five to 10 years. Organizations must embrace this change and leverage the talents of these workers, rather than letting them “retire-on-the-job” or “putting them out to pasture.” Many of the myths regarding older workers have been dispelled through studies and the real facts point out that many organizations may be missing opportunities to leverage this group of employees. This presentation will dispel the myths and offer solutions for maximizing the talents of older workers.
Mark J. Schmit, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP
Mark J. Schmit, Ph.D., is the Executive Director for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Foundation. In this capacity he leads the Foundation’s efforts to advance the strategic direction and impact of the HR profession. Dr. Schmit was previously the Vice President of Research for SHRM. Dr. Schmit has more than 25 years of experience in the field of human resources and has also been an academic, applied researcher, HR generalist, and internal and external consultant to both public and private organizations. Dr. Schmit earned a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Bowling Green State University in 1994. He has published more than 25 professional journal articles and book chapters and delivered more than 75 presentations at professional meetings on HR and Industrial/Organizational Psychology topics. Dr. Schmit is a Fellow in both the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the American Psychological Association. He is also certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).