Maturing Workforce: D.C. Perspective

I have a personal interest in the "Maturing Workforce." I joined IBM so late that, according to my benefit calculations, after I die I still have to work six years.

ISeriously, I'm a native Washingtonian. In Washington, it's not only the Redskins who are maturing. The federal government is, too.

In fact, a huge percentage of federal workers -- I believe it's more than 60 percent --  are eligible to retire in the next five years.

That's going to create a "brain drain" in one of the key institutions that itself is trying to solve the problems of aging baby-boomers: pending retirement, diminished social security funds and spiraling health-care costs.

I can see it now. Concerned citizen calls Help Desk at Government Agency:

Citizen: "What are we going to do about our retirement, social security and health care systems?"

Agency: "Beats us. All the people with expertise in that area have retired."

Citizen: "Any idea who might help me?"

Agency: "Umm, maybe you'd better ring someone in Florida."

Seriously, this is important stuff. Yet I'm amazed by the apparent lack of concern from some of the highest officials here in DC.

Prime Example: This Monday, presidential advisor Andrew Card took what I considered a cheap shot at federal government service, not only for the mature but for the young. He told a group of 2000 interns -- some of the best and brightest in the country, that (this directly from the Washington Post), "There are many programs for young people to have employment opportunities, but the greatest employment opportunities in our society come through the private sector," said Card, a former vice president of General Motors Corp. and ex-president of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association. "And so I don't think that everyone who is looking for a job should expect or even want a job with the federal government or one of our agencies. In fact, our economy would not do very well if people just worked for the government."

Seems to me that if we're about to lose massive numbers of federal workers, and their knowledge, these smart young people are exactly the ones we want in government.

Compare Mr. Card's comments to those of Clay Johnson. Clay is deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget (i.e. Head U.S. Personnel Honcho). Mr. Johnson is out drumming up support for the "Working for America Act," a bill that would reform federal government personnel rules to "require agencies to better manage, develop and reward employees." Hmm -- better management. Better development. Better reward. Find creative ways to retain and keep employees in federal service (not servitude).

Certainly we don't want everyone working for the government. And thanks, Mr. Card, for your endorsement of the private sector. But the reality is that civil employees over the past 20 years have become far more than "servants." They are professionals whose expertise we can scarcely afford to lose.

As for me, I give the better approach to Mr. Johnson. "Hail to Clay." And well, at least "Good luck" to the 'Skins.

-- Andy Kendzie, Public Sector Communications Director, IBM

Comments

[Paul Richard]

Current IRS rules are punative toward retirees staying in the workplace. This makes sense when the goal is to keep unemployment low because there are more workers than jobs. However, this neeeds to be addressed by the government as we shift to more jobs than workers.

Personally, I will be at the end of the boomer wave and believe that many of the issues will be resolved by the time I retire. However, addressing these legislative issues could result in more flexibility when approaching retirement and need to be addressed soon.

I would like to see companies use their employees that are approaching retirement or retired in more of a "consultant" role. Companies would establish a database of jobs/projects and workers would express their interest and post the number of hours they would be able to work that issue per week.

[Linda Hanson]

Jim - Have you considered worm-farming? You can't play golf every day anyway in Wisconsin. According to this year's top 10 Forecasts from the World Future Society http://www.wfs.org/forecasts.htm there is a worm shortage ahead due to the increasing demand for fish (Forecast #3). In addition to this potentially career-defining information, the forecasts also touch on a number of workforce related issues such as the "hyper-human" skills that will be required for tomorrow, and the skills that will keep you marketable right now. Additionally, to your point about re-channeling the energy of the maturing workforce, Forecast #9 discusses how a steadily growing cadre of older workers could expand the productive working days of businesses. Apparently older people tend to be early risers and at their sharpest in the morning. Adding an early-riser workshift could expand commerce as more businesses offer services for the early birds...(who may or may not be catching the proverbial worm referenced in Forecast #3).

But before we can get to the future, we need to hack through some of the bureaucracy du jour. The Employment Policy Foundation recently issued a news release http://www.epf.org/news/print_nrelease.asp?nrid=1194 which explained how the proposed Internal Revenue Service regulations in the US leave hurdles to phased retirement plan implementation. Aaargh! Given all the workplace demographic challenges ahead it seems that a great deal of flexibility is required on the part of "maturing" employees, employers and government agencies. I'd like to hear from folks that have ideas about how private and public sector entities can "flex their flexibility muscles" so we can get on with the future.

[Jim Cortada]

I got to thinking last weekend about how the graying workforce can re-channel its energy as it prepares for retirement. I am 58, live in a university town (Madison, Wisconsin) and my two daughters are grown up and out of the house. So I now have more time to devote to "work" than I have in years. There's got to be a productive way to use that time and energy for work without really retiring. What are other people doing? Even better, what would you want to be doing? It can't be just play golf every day.