A British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) poll suggests that almost half of organisations are unprepared for an ageing workforce, while facilities managers are “overlooking” the wider issues of staff of different ages.
The findings were revealed in the BIFM’s recent “Post-recessional Workplaces Review”, conducted for the facilities management body by Leesman, a “workplace effectiveness survey, data capture and audit service provider for the workplace design and management industry”. Although it believes recent Government proposals to increase the state retirement age indicate that changes need to be made to cope effectively with an ageing workforce, the BIFM says its poll – conducted among members and “workplace industry insiders” – revealed that “few organisations are working to understand the impact an ageing workforce will have on their company”. It says: “This is alarming, especially considering that, during the past two recessionary years, the proportion of people over 55 planning to work beyond state pension age has jumped from 40% to 71%. (Equality and Human Rights Commission, UK January 2010). “An increased ageing working population will apply new pressures and bring new challenges for those responsible for designing and managing workplace,” said Tim Oldman, Leesman’s MD. “Eighty-four per cent of respondents recognised that the quality of a workplace impacts on its occupiers’ productivity, but only 52% recognised the differing needs of the oldest and youngest users.” “The oldest and youngest employee groups seek very different things,” added BIFM strategy director Stephen Bennett. “Those responsible for workplaces are thus going to have some big issues to address in the way they create effective office spaces for an increasingly diverse and mobile workforce.”
