Managing Mature Employees: A Tool-Box For Supervisors & HR Personnel

Rationale/Aims

By 2020, 35% of the resident population of Singapore will be 50 years and above. The Re-employment Legislation was implemented in Singapore in 2012. It requires employers to re-employ older workers until the age of 65 (67 subsequently).

There is therefore an urgent need for managers and supervisors to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage mature employees, for business sustainability. Moreover, mature employees possess valuable skills, knowledge and experience and have made significant contributions to the company and the society. The aim of this course is to equip participants (supervisors, managers, heads of departments etc.) with the essential competencies to supervise, counsel and harness the strengths of mature employees.

Target Participants

  • Managers, supervisors and HR personnel

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will:

  • possess better understanding of the different generations and the contributions of mature employees
  • understand age-associated bio-psycho-social changes in mature employees
  • increase their abilities to harness the strengths and experience of mature employees
  • be equipped with basic counselling, assessment, intervention and referral skills, with a special focus on re-employment

Course Outlines

Part A: Understanding Mature Employees

  • Developmental issues and concerns of mature employees
  • Physical and psychological aspects of ageing

Part B: Understanding Current Socio-Economic Realities

  • Industry practice and criteria for re-employment/re-deployment
  • Labour market information - current realities, managing expectations
  • Intergenerational issues at the workplace

Part C: Counselling, Coaching and Mentoring Mature Employees

Counselling, coaching and mentoring: purpose, principles and skills
  • Counselling, coaching and mentoring: definitions, objectives
  • Differences and similarities between them
  • Self-assessment
  • Counselling and mentoring older employees: principles and process
  • Attending and active listening skills
  • Interviewing skills
  • Micro-skills
Re-employment &/or re-deployment counselling
  • Self-assessment: ensuring a good fit
  • Job search and retraining resources
Evidence-based Model for Counselling Mature Employees
  • The ECADIT: an indigenous, evidence-based model for counselling older adults

    This model was developed through a three-year research project carried out locally. A pre and post-test was conducted and the model was found to be more efficacious than other models, which were applied to the control group.

  • Skills application and feedback

Part D: Harnessing Silver Talent

Leading Employment Practices and Evidence-based Strategies
  • Motivating and engaging mature employees: local research findings on what they want
  • Local and international case studies of leading practices
  • HR practices to facilitate employment of mature employees
Mentoring and Coaching Mature Employees
  • Understanding and harnessing mature mentee’s strengths
  • Recognising mature mentees’ limitations and developmental needs
  • Awareness of cultural differences, values and issues
  • Understanding personality types, mentoring and learning styles (MBTI concepts)
  • Synchronising your mentoring styles with your mentees’ learning styles

Course Duration

Two and a half days