Module 6

 Evaluating the Workplace Environment Vis a Vis the Older Worker’s Needs

Learner’s Goal: To understand the types of jobs older persons can fill, where jobs can be found, skills needed for the jobs, and accommodations which are needed to carry out the jobs.

Learner Objective: At the end of the module, you will be able to evaluate the older person’s employment needs and identify appropriate work environments and work modifications for the prospective employee.

A.      Types of Jobs Held by People 55 and Older Who are Visually Impaired

Here are just a few examples of current jobs filled by older persons with visual impairment:

·                      Bookkeeper (using computer)

·            Attorney

·            File Clerk

·            Reservations clerk (telephone job)

·            Caregiver

·             Realtor

·             Stock broker

·             Farmer

·             Dishwasher

·                       College professor

·              High School teacher

·              Computer Programmer

·              Legal Assistant

·              Social Worker (based on RSA data on 1998 placements)

1.      Employment through Companies

Several large companies and governmental agencies hire older workers as a matter of policy.  For example:  Walgreens, CVS ,  McDonalds, Sears, Walmart, U.S. Bureau of the Census, the CIA (personal correspondence, Lita Levine Kleger, Experience Works (formerly known as Green Thumb).

2.      Staffing Agencies and Temporary Workers–the Future Is Now

A University of Iowa Study (1998) examined how Manpower Inc. employs people with disabilities and found the following:

·  90% of those studied were at work within 10 days of applying.

·  90% were placed in industries/jobs which matched their skills.

·  90% remained in the workforce during the course of the study either in regular jobs or in temp positions.

·  60% moved from no employment to regular employment–as opposed to 40% of Manpower’s other clients. (Radtke, 1999).

Working for a temporary agency has changed dramatically in the last decade. Some agencies now offer a number of benefits such as holiday and bonus pay, tuition reimbursement, access to medical and life insurance, and healthcare discount programs and referral bonuses. Aquent, an employment agency catering to free-lancers, provides health, dental, life, homeowners, renters, condominium, business, professional liability, long-term disability, and long-term care insurance.

Temporary staffing agencies cater to different staffing needs. For example, Manpower recruits for positions in information technology, engineering, telecommunication, finance, industrial, call center, administrative and other professionally related positions. Office-Team, on the other hand, staffs customer-service positions such as receptionists, administrative and executive positions. Image staffing employs food servers and cooks (Hurd, 2000).

Would-be employees can sign up for temporary staffing programs through the Internet.

3.      Self-Employment

·       “People with a work disability are self-employed at a higher rate (12.2%) than people without disabilities” (Arnold, 1996, p. 56).

·      The study of employment of older workers with visual impairments instituted by the goal 5 group of the National Agenda on Vision and Aging (Cavenaugh and Rogers, in press) indicated that 20 percent who become employed are self-employed.

·       Project VIEW case studies

Several of Project VIEW’s successes were individuals who were self-employed such as greeting card editors, tax accountants, and travel agents (see Appendix E).

B.      Top Ten Fastest Growing Occupations Today for All Age Groups:

·                      computer engineer

·           computer support specialist

·           systems analyst

·           database administrator

·           desktop publishing specialist

·            paralegal or legal assistant

·            personal care aide or home health aide

·            medical assistant

·             social service assistant or human service assistant

·              physician assistant ( www.aarp.org/working_options/greatcareers.html )

C.      Skills Needed for Jobs

Workplace know-how skills:  Current demands of the labor market and employment stability

·  basic academic skills–reading, writing, and math; personal characteristics–honesty, responsibility, creativity, and positive attitudes

·  task achievement competencies– attendance, punctuality, appropriate attire, flexibility, and problem solving

·  behavior with respect to organization–understands and embraces mission, safety awareness, and takes and follows directions

·   interpersonal skills–teamwork skills, works well with co-workers, respects diversity, sociability

·   basic verbal skills–ability to communicate (Radtke,1999, p. 13)

·   building, honing, and fine-tuning technological skills and computer based skills, including use of adaptive technology

·   developing skills for information gathering and networking (Radtke,1999,  p. 33)

D.      Workplace and Job Modifications Needed (Such as Access Technology)

1.                  Accommodating the Needs of Older Workers in the Workplace

·           part-time vs full-time work– According to Senior Job Bank, age discrimination exists more in the full-time job category than in the part-time category (www.seniorjobbank.org/zzindex.htm)

·        job sharing

·       flex schedules

·       home-based work

·      self-employment

·     employers offer training such as self-paced tutorials; OJTs, English as a second language (ESL).

·    employers offer benefits such as medical plans, salary rates, or pension plans tailored to the needs of the workers (Cisco, 1991).

2.         Job Analysis: The Older Worker Who Is Visually Impaired.

The purpose of a job analysis is to identify the characteristics of a specific position, not to identify the suitability of a specific individual for a position.  The process of integrating the two is called “matching”.  In other words, does the job seeker have the skills and abilities to perform the specifics of a given position?  A job analysis is not conducted with a specific gender, attitude, or disability in mind.

In general, as a result of the aging process, older individuals may experience changes which may affect their ability to carry out certain job duties. 

The job analysis outline, which can be found in Appendix B, is intended only as a tool to help the counselor.  An * (asterisk)  has been placed in front of those items which might require specific consideration when working with older persons.  The recognition of these particular items is not to imply that the individual cannot do the job, but simply that an effort should be made to avoid placement of an older individual into a position which causes stress on their physical and mental capabilities. 

3.         Workplace Modifications Related to Vision Loss

·                      need for optical and non optical devices

·                      use of sensory and technological devices (Note: Other types of accommodations may be needed for individuals with additional losses such as hearing loss (refer to Module 3 for information about communication devices, etc.)

·                      need for visual skills training (scanning, eccentric viewing)

·                      need for environmental modifications

·                      ensure illumination and glare control

·                      use color contrast

·                      avoid visual clutter such as patterns in rugs, wall coverings

·                      provide organization of work space

·                      ensure uncluttered travel areas (Connolly, 1991).

Learning Activities–You may try these activities to practice what you have learned.

1.         Review the case histories on self-employment in Appendix E.  Select one and role play a scene between a counselor and a client as you discuss setting up a business.

2.         Read the case history of an of older person with a visual impairment employed through Experience Works in Appendix F.

3.         Select a work environment and conduct a mock job analysis for an older consumer who has applied for a job as (your choice)____, has macular degeneration, mild hearing loss, and arthritis which affect his mobility.

Congratulations!

You have finished Module 6.  Now go on to the key points section to review what you have learned.