Acting your age at work

As an older worker, you have obligation to be your best.

I hate to bring this up, but did you know that the American workforce is aging?

Turns out we’re going gray at our jobs at a pretty good clip. According to more than one source, by 2020, one-fourth of the American workforce will be comprised of people older than 55 – and one third of this group will be 65 or older. In fact, workers age 55 or older is the fastestgrowing segment of the U.S. labor force.

While the advancement of baby boomers through the life cycle is an obvious element of this statistical reality, this phenomenon isn’t actually about getting older – it’s about not retiring as one gets older. Put more bluntly, we’re not going gently into that good night (of retirement), Instead, we’re choosing to stay in – or reenter – the workforce.

Theories abound about why so many workers are still punching a clock in their golden years, with most ideas centered on the Big Three: finances, benefits and fulfillment. Regardless of whether older Americans need to work, or just want to keep a hand in, one thing is becoming clear: they’re entering new territory, as are their bosses.

For employers, accommodations for an older worker could be as simple as rearranging vacations to align with an employee’s visiting grandchildren. Or they could be as complex as timing job duties around an older worker’s caretaking schedule for elderly parents, or creating part-time roles to allow more flexibility.

For the workers, on the other hand, the accommodation is more personal: These individuals must come to the job ready to “act their age” – whatever that happens to be. Because if you’re walking around in a 65-year-old body, you can be fit and look great, but that doesn’t mean some parts aren’t wearing out. They are, and you need to take responsibility for that fact and make the necessary adjustments to contribute fully at work.

You know your own body and which bits are threatening to quit on you, but just in case – here’s a short list of some of the most common things needing a fix.

Eyesight. Having worn glasses since I was 8 (yes, I was that kid), it’s easy for me to forget that others are just grappling with failing vision in middle age. Apparently it’s easy for them to forget too, as I’ve had countless conversations with folks who can’t see the page I’m pointing to when we’re in a counseling session. I keep cheaters in the room for this eventuality, but I’m also likely to provide this counsel: Get prescription lenses before starting on your interviews, and certainly before your first day on the new job. And then get over it. It’s better to be able to see with glasses than to preserve your “look” without them.

Hearing aids. Yep, you know where this is going. If your spouse says your hearing is bad, it is. Just believe it and fix it. You will not win points on the job asking everyone to repeat things.

Bladder control. Right, that’s not something you really want to read about in a career advice column. But if this is your issue and you haven’t done what you can to either correct it or accommodate the condition, you’re cheating yourself. You deserve to consider jobs that may not include instant/constant access to bathroom facilities.

Bunions. I first started realizing the impact of bad feet on job search timelines when I discovered how many of my older clients were sidelined between jobs by corrective foot surgeries. If your feet hurt, you might as well get them fixed. It will make you look 10 years younger when you can stride forward to meet the interviewer instead of hobbling.

Joint replacements. Speaking of striding instead of hobbling – have you been putting off a knee or hip replacement? If you have good reason to believe that your bad joints would be improved with this surgery, or that your pain would be more manageable, you have to believe that you’d also be a better worker.

While this list of agerelated ailments could go much longer, the point is made: As an older worker, you’re bringing your whole self to the job, which means you have some obligation to ensure that the body you inhabit is working as best as it can.

Making the fixes can be tricky, however, if you have poor insurance coverage, or don’t have another income in the house to provide support while you’re recovering. In that case, focus on fixing what you can, at whatever level is possible with your resources. Then keep your eyes open for opportunities to upgrade those worn-out body parts once you’ve started your new job.