Don’t let technology run you out of a job you like

Ever feel like your employer is bringing in new software for the express purpose of driving you so crazy you’ll quit? You’re probably not alone. A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research crunched decades of data on 50,000 businesses and 11.6 million workers and found that the faster a company installs new software, the faster it loses older workers. Older people are disappearing as businesses adopt new technology to stay competitive, said Richard Freeman, a Harvard economics professor and a coauthor of the NBER report. “Companies will say, ‘We’ll train you,’ but people who feel they are close to retiring often say, ‘I don’t want to bother.’ ” For older workers, adapting to new systems can be particularly frustrating and make one feel old. But you don’t want to act old — meaning you don’t want to resist change. The smart move is to stay at your job, even if you are not thrilled by the prospect of retraining. Start by improving your attitude — about yourself. A lot of the conventional wisdom about older workers and tech is bunk. Ignore it. If people 55 and older have experience in a field, data show they learn new systems as quickly as younger colleagues. Next, ignore stereotypes about diminished productivity. “There is little indication that worker productivity, as measured by variables such as piecework and peer and supervisor ratings, declines with age,” said Neil Charness, a psychology professor at Florida State and director of the university’s Institute for Successful Longevity. Believe in yourself. Think of new software as a tool to make your job easier and make you more productive, not as a trap to expose your incompetence. Look at it this way: You have mastered your smartphone, despite frequent software updates, and benefited from many of the new apps they made possible. Don’t be intimidated by tech trainers If you are uncomfortable with the style of training offered by your company (or, more likely, an outside contractor), request changes that would better suit you. Shorter classes, for example, to give everyone time to absorb and practice new ideas while they are fresh in their minds. Smaller classes, to make it easier for all participants to ask questions. Ask for individual instruction if you need it; your company has a lot invested in you already. You may feel more comfortable as an independent learner. See if a YouTube video or free online course can give you a head start. Inquire about whether your employer has a tuition-assistance program to cover some or all of the cost of courses outside your workplace. These courses could bethrough a local community college or a private business. Still not sure you want to stick around for the next big software update? Maybe you should do it as a favor to your brain. Training making you feel old could actually help you stay young.