Case study
Tesco
Age Positive Champion
Dumfries and Galloway Standard/Age Positive Awards Company Winner 2004 (Dumfries store)
Perthshire Advertiser/Age Positive Awards Company Winner 2004 (Perth store)
We introduced a policy on working beyond retirement and have almost 2,500 staff over the traditional retirement age. It is attitude and ability - not age - that makes for great service for our customers.
OUR AGE POSITIVE GOOD PRACTICE:
We have recruitment campaigns to attract people from many different sections of the community, including older workers. Our job training means that people from all backgrounds and age groups can benefit from a fulfilling role; whether it’s a school leaver, someone post-retirement or starting a second career, or juggling family life and a part-time job. Through development, anyone can progress to management and build a career in our business - regardless of their age.
We offer many different working patterns which give a great deal of flexibility.
We believe we can’t afford to be complacent around diversity issues and are continually working on initiatives to attract people from all backgrounds. We’re continually listening to feedback from our staff to ensure we are supporting their needs.
BENEFITS OF OUR GOOD PRACTICE:
Recent research has taught us that not only do shoppers like dealing with staff of all ages, but employees from all age groups consistently stated that they enjoy working in an age diverse team.
Susan Ormiston is 68 and Louise Hallows is 19. They both work in Tesco in Linlithgow, West Lothian. They’re living proof of their employer’s age-friendly policies and are an example to others by defying age stereotypes.
“Sitting at home knitting ? That’s not for me !”
At 68, Susan Ormiston is an example that age should not be a barrier in the workplace. “I was in the travel trade for 45 years which gave me a great deal of experience of working with customers of all ages and all walks of life,” said Susan. “Tesco appreciate this and chose to employ me. Some people say that at my age, I should be sitting at home knitting, but that’s not for me ! I don’t have any plans to retire. I want to get up each morning and go to work ! If people are fit and still want to work, I think they should keep on working until they feel ready to retire.”
Susan reckons that employers that hire a mix of older and younger workers can reap the benefits: “I’m a team leader in the store, and I train and supervise some of the younger colleagues. From my experience, I find they listen to advice from an older member of staff than they would from someone their own age. And older staff can learn from the younger ones. Basically, I think we all learn from each other, which is why I enjoy working as part of a team of all ages.”
All the available evidence shows that employers who are age positive enjoy lower staff turnover rates, lower absenteeism and workers with higher levels of motivation and efficiency. But, unfortunately, nearly one in four people are unable to get a job because of their age. This is why Age Positive is encouraging employers to embrace the advantages of having a mixed-age workforce.
“Older and younger together creates a great atmosphere.”
Louise Hallows is a customer assistant. Before taking up her post with Tesco, Louise applied for a job at a bank, but was told she was too inexperienced. Louise sees the benefits of working as part of a mixed age diverse workforce: “I think that working alongside older employees who have worked here for years helps me mature more quickly. Not only that, I think that having older and younger people working together creates a great atmosphere.”
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