Ideal work environment for NZ baby boomers

Ideal Work Environment
In 2007 the Association of American Retired People (AARP) (Groeneman, 2008) conducted research into what the ideal workplace should look like for Americans aged 45 to 74 who were currently working or looking for work.

While the AARP’s study surveyed workers in the decade older than baby boomers as well as baby boomers themselves, and the New Zealand study included non-workers (but only of baby boomer age), comparisons can still be made between the American and New Zealand populations.

Notably, the top four most essential or important workplace benefits are the same in both populations, with “a chance to use your skills and talents” ranked as the single most important thing by almost 98% of New Zealand baby boomers and 91% of American workers. New Zealand workplaces that tap into this overwhelming need among baby boomers to utilise their skills and talents will both retain such workers and benefit from the loyalty and appreciation they are likely to receive as a result of responding to the need.

A friendly work environment, the chance to do something worthwhile and the need to feel respected by co-workers also rank consistently highly among New Zealanders and American older workers, with 92-98% of respondents valuing them. These findings are not unexpected when the characteristic need of baby boomers to pursue meaning and relevance are considered.

The need to feel respected by the boss ranked as “essential” for 52% of New Zealand respondents and “essential” or “important” for 91.3% of them, compared to 75% of American respondents. While its overall New Zealand ranking was an fifth, it was the second most essential workplace aspect for many respondents, making it important to most baby boomers but an essential deal-breaker for some. This finding may provide guidance for New Zealand employers struggling with “brain drain” coming from the top; it may also provide some insight into a growing tendency among some New Zealand baby boomers to leave their employers and start their own businesses.

Breeding a culture of respect from managers and between co-workers could be one of the most important challenges facing the workplace over the next 20-40 years.