Businesses recognise benefits of age diversity

The UK Commission for Employment and Skill’s (UKCES) vision of a “4G” future where employees from four generations will work side by side for the first time in history is welcomed not feared.  However, businesses will be at a competitive disadvantage and experience further skills shortages unless they start planning for the changes now.

These are the findings of recent research from the CIPD, which shows that employers and employees see clear benefits from an increasingly age diverse workforce but need to do more to take full advantage.

UKCES Commissioner Toby Peyton-Jones has questioned whether this emerging multi-generational workplace will spell stress and culture clashes or create positive tension leading to innovation. The CIPD’s study of nearly 3000 employees and over 900 employers points strongly to the latter.  

Almost a third of employees saw no challenges whatsoever in working with colleagues from different generations, with employers and employees in agreement that knowledge sharing and greater innovation are by far the leading benefits.

However, despite the gains to be made, CIPD’s research, ‘Managing an age-diverse workforce’, reveals that many businesses are still ill prepared to capitalise on the opportunities that an age diverse workforce can bring.

Claire McCartney, Research Adviser at the CIPD, said: “Despite well-publicised skills shortages and low productivity, our research shows that businesses are not doing enough to recruit from an increasingly age diverse talent pool. And even amongst those companies that are, many simply aren’t equipped to manage their age diverse teams in order to maximise their potential.  

“This is a missed opportunity and could put businesses at a serious disadvantage in a four-generation future.”

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