Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505050036
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: F-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: VICKI VAUGHAN ORLANDO SENTINEL
DATELINE: ORLANDO, FLA. LENGTH: Long
Smiling at a girl going through the turnstile, he offers, ``You're going to have fun!''
McCartney's supervisor, Chris Sweet, is watching. He smiles, too.
``Dick is just the kind of person we need at the gate,'' Sweet says. ``He's very positive and starts people on the right foot. And he's flexible and wants to have fun.''
McCartney is 78 - at least a generation older than his boss and many of those who work alongside him at the theme park. Yet older workers like McCartney aren't unusual in the workplace.
Some companies, particularly service-oriented businesses, have long histories of hiring older workers.
``It is companies that want people who enjoy dealing with other people,'' said Kevin Brickey, an economist with Florida Job Service. Brickey said he didn't have a statistical breakout of employment by industry.
Older workers also are desired ``because they tend to have a better work ethic,'' said Donald P. Rogers, professor of business administration at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla.
``They tend to be better about showing up, and they have predictable attendance,'' Rogers said.
Employers agree. They rave about seniors' dependability and skills in dealing with clients and customers. Also, some businesses say that the schedules of older people dovetail perfectly with students who are hired.
Universal Studios representatives visit seniors centers and job fairs, said Rick Larson, vice president of administration.
``The reason we want them, in general, is that they're such terrific workers,'' Larson said. ``They are highly dedicated and are terrific role models.''
Finding older workers to hire isn't terribly difficult, Larson said. ``I just wish there were more of them,'' he added.
At Universal, workers over 65 years old account for 5 percent of Universal's work force of 4,500, park officials said.
Smaller companies also hire seniors.
Ronnie Hogan, director of human resources at William G. Roe & Co., a Winter Haven, Fla., fresh-fruit packer and grower, said he hires people over 65 ``for the same reason anybody hires anybody: Those who are productive and dependable.''
Despite the good efforts of some, few companies deliberately target older workers.
John Ragna, senior vice president of Drake Beam Morin Inc. in Orlando, a national outplacement firm, said that companies may feel the need to be discreet about hiring older workers.
About a decade ago, The Travelers Cos. put together a pool of retired employees who could be called on to work part-time or for specific tasks.
The experiment garnered lots of bad press for Travelers.
``There started to be a lot of discomfort,'' Ragna said, because the insurance company was accused of taking advantage of the older workers and trying to slash benefits.
The company stopped using the workers. But the criticism seemed to be misplaced because a recent study showed that if seniors had their choice, they would prefer to work for their old companies, but on a casual, part-time basis.
Despite the great reviews older workers get, there remain negative perceptions about their abilities, according to the American Association of Retired Persons.
Employers feel that older workers are unwilling to accept new or additional tasks, can't adapt to new working environments and resist new technology, AARP said.
Also, older workers tend to be hired only for entry-level jobs at minimum wage or only slightly more.
There is also a perception that older workers are displacing younger ones.
Publix Supermarkets spokeswoman Jennifer Bush said that, rather than displacing younger employees, seniors ``help us have a perfect balancing in scheduling.''
Many older employees want to work in the mornings and early afternoon, when they are replaced by students.
And there are other reasons why companies hire older workers, said Rogers, the Rollins professor.
``Older workers can be very compliant,'' he noted. ``They aren't patsies. You can't walk all over them. But in the competition for advancement for everything from a promotion to a better parking space, they tend not to play office politics. They don't want more.''
Companies face no legal obstacles in hiring workers 65 and older.
But employers must be careful, as for all prospective employees, not to ask age-based questions during the interview process, said Orlando lawyer Susan McKenna.
``I'd avoid all questions that might indicate age stereotyping,'' McKenna said. For example, employers shouldn't inquire about a older person's energy level or stamina ``unless you are asking those same questions of younger people,'' McKenna said.
It would also be inappropriate to ask a senior if he or she may have a problem relating to younger people, unless the company is asking the younger people if they have a problem working with older workers. Such age-based questions aren't illegal, but they may serve as evidence of discrimination if the applicant is rejected, McKenna said.
Older workers say they don't care that they are working in entry-level jobs. At Universal, Larson said, older workers ``are taking tickets, work in ride-and-show queue lines or in retail'' for about $5 an hour.
McCartney, the ticket taker, said the relatively humble job and pay is fine with him.
He was a chiropractor in Winter Park for 41 years before retiring four years ago. He said he works about 30 hours a week at Universal, but will work more if asked. Greeting guests is more of a pleasure than work, he said.
``Four years of fishing was enough.''
by CNB