"Are You Ready for an Aging Workforce?"

What are the biggest questions regarding older workers?

• What are the best ways to plan ahead for the significant change in the labor market?
• How can employers improve multigenerational relationships and create a harmonious workplace?
• What retirement benefits can be addressed to recruit or retain employees?
• What are the retirement and post-retirement plans of employees?
• What is the best way to discuss retirement plans with older employees?
• How can employers support employees who are family caregivers?

This presentation answers these questions and others from the standpoint of four distinct foci:

• Job satisfaction
• Retirement planning
• Intergenerational workforce dynamics
• Caregiving needs

Dawn Lehman

Dawn Lehman, an organizational anthropologist, has conducted extensive research among employees at small, medium and large companies, including General Motors, Pharmacia Corporation, and the United States Air Force. Her research has focused on the impact of culture on the implementation of new technology; organizational change; employee training; intergenerational communications; cultural competency; and customer service. She has presented papers at a National Institute on Aging Meeting, National Council on Aging/American Society on Aging Conferences, Gerontological Society of America Conferences and the American Anthropological Association Meetings, and has been given numerous awards for her work in the private and nonprofit sectors.

Jon Woodall

Jon Woodall is a Ph.D. candidate at Capella University in the Education program with a focus in Instructional Design for Online Learning. He earned his M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from American Intercontinental University in 2004 and his B.S. in Management from DePaul University, Chicago, in 2001. Prior to his current role as the Online Programs Manager at Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, he earned international experience working as an Instructional Designer in Germany. His academic interest involves eLearning and mobile learning for Gerontology professionals, case-based reasoning models and ColdFusion 8 development. At Mather LifeWays, he splits his time, as the Online Programs Manager, between the maintenance and further development/enhancement of the online environment and communicating the online programs to interested aging professionals and/or their organizations. Most recently, he has presented at Woodland Retirement & Associated Living Community (Lacey, WA) and Alexian Village (Milwaukee, WI) on caregiver self-care and memory loss with aging.