Sri Lanka: Head Hunter Encourages Rethinking Retirement Age

An article in Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror quotes the vetean head hunter Fayaz Saleem suggests that Sri Lanka's early retirement age (55, and in some cases 60) is creating an "an inopportune problem for those who have no choice but to retire and yet have a portfolio of experience that is worthy of a successful company." HR managers should HR departments should reconsider this age cut-off for the benefit of their companies: instead of shunning older workers, they should be recruited and retained because this of their loyalty and experience.

“This generation shows a strong demand for working beyond retirement for financial reasons as much as them wanting to use their skills and experience,” he says. He adds that in order to reintroduce them to the workforce it is important to enforce widespread changes in employer’s practices relating to training, retention and recruitment. The older professional with the aptitude and training for mentoring could see it as a way to remain in the industry for another few more years.

In addition, Saleem notes that, in light of the brain drain that Sri Lanka is experiencing with younger people, it is necessary "to retain this older generation who are no longer interested in lifespan jobs."

Source: Daily Mirror "A Vanishing Workforce" (April 28, 2008)