Over the next 10 years, it’s anticipated that nearly 76 million Baby Boomers will reach retirement age, and there will be less than 50 million workers to fill the void. A recent study conducted by Strategy One, a marketing research firm, learned Baby Boomers wouldn’t consider themselves “old” until 74. The study, U.S. Boomers Insights and Implication Study, concluded that 78% feel they still have opportunities in life once they reach retirement age. And according to a blog post by Baby Boomer Insights, 80% of boomers plan to continue working well past retirement.

Though employers may feel that it’s essential to focus mainly on fresh faces to ignite new ideas and stir things up, it is important to realize that recruiting, hiring and retaining mature employees can also help your business. Below are four reasons to keep older employees in your workforce.

Experience – Mature workers possess on-the-job experience. They’re detail-oriented, focused and attentive. And these qualities, which have been perfected over time, can trickle down to younger workers, making older workers excellent mentors for younger generations.

Loyal – Employees in the Baby Boomer generation don’t feel the need to job hop or look for better opportunities. They’re socially and economically stable. They know the value of a good employer, and a loyal and dedicated employee is more productive and more likely to stay with the company longer, which reduces turnover costs.

Mature – They’ve been around for awhile, so workplace drama doesn’t rattle them. They have work and life experience and typically know how to handle complicated situations and understand workplace politics. Their maturity can help ground your entire workforce.

Strong Work Ethic – Older employees take pride in their work. Boomers may not burn through deadlines, but you can be sure that they’ll take the time to do their jobs right and put in the extra hours to make sure it’s quality work, resulting in fewer mistakes that can be costly for your company.

Before you start thinking it’s time to throw out the old for the new, remember the attributes maturing employees have to offer, and your business will reap the benefits.

Whether you work for a Fortune 500 company or dry cars at a car wash, when you’re no longer satisfied, you’re not going to be happy. Your job can start to feel like a dead end when you no longer know what you’re working for, you’re under stimulated, there’s no room for advancement or the tasks you use to enjoy no longer excite you. If you find yourself counting the minutes until you go home, or you sit around daydreaming about finding a better job that best utilizes your talents, there are a few things you can do while working at your current job that will prepare you for new opportunities when they arise and help you focus on something other than not liking your job.

Evaluate and Improve. Take this time to look at yourself and honestly assess who you are as a person and your work ethic. Evaluate how you react in certain situations. See how others treat you and how you treat others. If there is tension between you and the rest of the staff, try approaching your co-workers and addressing the situation so you can better understand what it is that might need improvement. Often times, there is a common denominator and if you keep running into the same problems all the time, chances are it’s you. By taking this time to evaluate yourself and correct your own faults, you’ll be better prepared for opportunities when they arise.

Be Positive. You never know who you might meet that can advance your career, so try to stay positive even when confronted with negative situations or people. If you’re dealing with a dilemma or an angry co-worker, instead of complaining or lashing out, turn the situation around by challenging yourself to correct the problem. Learn to recognize problem areas and practice working things through to create a positive outcome. Optimism is contagious, and eventually you will begin to impact other people’s attitudes while creating a positive image of yourself.

Take on New Challenges. It doesn’t matter what new challenge you take on, just take on something different than your normal everyday tasks. Learning to do new things, no matter how small, stimulates your mind and boosts your self confidence. According to a report written by Helen Fisher, PhD, learning new things increases brain levels of dopamine, which increases feelings of pleasure. So, no matter how bored you are in your current job, try stepping out of your everyday routine and learn what your co-worker or someone down the hall does. Challenge yourself to come up with a new idea that can benefit you or your company. Offer to help a co-worker with a project, or ask your boss if there is anything you can do to increase your workplace knowledge. Keeping your brain active will ensure you’re ready when a new job opportunity comes your way.

If you feel dissatisfied in your current job, try following these tips and take this time as a learning experience to better yourself for your next job opportunity.

Do you work in an environment that’s filled with tension or chaos? If you do, you probably struggle to feel relaxed and focused while at work. Although you may not be able to change the atmosphere around you, you can alter the way you react to it. Following the tips below can help reduce the amount of stress you experience at work.

Let it roll off your back. While it can be difficult not to take a sharp word or a careless act personally, staying calm really is the best way to react. If a co-worker or manager says or does something that gets under your skin, focus on redirecting your attention. You can do this by thinking about something that makes you feel happy or relaxed. Also, try to remind yourself that the person probably didn’t mean to be hurtful or rude, but acted without thinking.

Accepting people’s flaws and forgiving them when they offend you will not only improve your workplace relationships, it will also dramatically reduce your level of stress.

Focus on one day at a time. It’s easy to get caught up in worrying about what tomorrow holds or rehashing something that went wrong in the past.  But, when you fret about the future or the past, you waste today. Instead of always looking ahead of or behind you, keep your eyes focused on the task at hand.

It’s much easier to deal with problems at work when you take things one day at a time. If you’re stewing about another day’s concerns, stop and tell yourself that you will only deal with the stressors that are currently in your path.

Take a breather. When you’re overwhelmed by the situation around you, it’s time to take a step back and clear your head. Even if you’re busy, sometimes it’s necessary to take a break in order to give yourself a little distance from a problem. A few minutes of forced relaxation can help you see an issue in a new light, which in the long run can actually save time.

A few good ways to get away and relax in the heat of the moment are to go for a brisk walk, head to a quiet room and meditate or go to your car and listen to relaxing music.

Stress is hard on the body and mind. Workplace tension also reduces your job satisfaction. That’s why it’s so important to make an extra effort to bring calm into a hectic day. Following the advice above can help you develop a more relaxed mindset and create a tranquil work environment.

What type of stress do you have at your job? How do you respond to it?  Share your stories in the comments section.

As the weather cools, the sniffles are descending upon workers across the country. And many are showing up to work that way. In fact, it’s a pretty normal thing for workers to show up with a lot more than the sniffles. Some are on the clock with a temperature, and many show up to work even when they are contagious.

Of course, it’s a hassle to have to pull weight for someone who is out sick or to find a replacement, but sick leave exists for a reason. Not only do workers perform more poorly when they feel ill, they also pose a risk to the other people they work with. That’s why it’s important to call in sick when you’re, well, sick.

But how do you know when you’re sick enough to call in? Health experts say there are some important signs for any worker – or for that matter, boss or colleague – to know if they or someone around them are sick.

1. A high fever. If you have a high fever – above 101 – don’t go to work. If you’ve gone in to work thinking you have a slight cold, and your fever escalates, tell your boss you need to go home – or to the doctor, depending on your other symptoms – immediately. Fever is a common sign that whatever you have is contagious, and the last thing any employer wants is for their entire workforce to be taken down by the same bug.

2. A very sore throat. White patches on your throat plus a fever is a common sign of strep throat, which is highly contagious. A very sore throat is also associated with a number of other common contagious ailments, so see a doctor and then head home instead of to work.

3. A cough. A minor cough can be due to allergies or minor irritants, which you can work through, but if you have a cough plus aches and a fever, you may have a cold. You won’t get over a severe cold or the flu unless you get rest, so stay at home. You won’t feel well enough to get much accomplished anyway.
A severe cough along with mucus or shortness of breath can be a sign of bronchitis or pneumonia, so it’s best to see a doctor and stay away from the workplace until they’ve signed off on your health.

4. Stomach problems. According to experts, if you can’t hold down food, don’t go in to work. You could have a contagious stomach virus, which typically lasts one or two days. Food poisoning is another option, and the last thing you want to do at work is puke in the presence of your co-workers.

5. Pinkeye. Even though you might not feel miserable, the bright red, matted, gooey eye you are sporting is highly contagious if it’s the most common form of pinkeye. See a doctor, because this infection will need to be fought with antibiotics.

If you have one of these or other signs, chances are, you are too sick to be at work. Give as much advance notice as possible to your boss, but when you’re sick, do yourself, your boss and everyone you work with a favor. Call in sick.

Have you ever gone to work sick? How bad was it? Does your boss encourage you to take sick leave when you’re not feeling 100%? Let us know in the comments below!

Note: This article is not intended to replace expert medical advice. Please consult with your physician.

If you’re like many employees, your job is pretty consistent throughout the week. While you may have a few surprises pop up every now and then, for the most part, your work follows a predictable pattern. While a routine can be comforting, it can also get dull after a while.

If you’re so familiar with your job that you could do it in your sleep, it’s time to shake things up a little. The tips below can help you get out of a rut and get reenergized at work.

Break Out of the Daily Grind. Have you ever watched a movie that was so predictable you knew what the ending of the film would be within the first five minutes? It made for a pretty boring two hours, didn’t it? The same is true for your work. To mix things up and keep yourself interested in your job, you’ve got to add a little variety to each day. One way to spice up your work day is to change your routine. Do you archive e-mails every Monday at 3 p.m.? Why not try Fridays at 9 a.m. instead? File paperwork first thing every morning? Switch it to the last thing you do before you go home. You might be amazed how simply shifting your schedule can breathe new life into your day.

Change Your Scenery. Your surroundings affect your outlook. Sitting at the same desk, looking at the same computer screen, eight hours a day, five days a week, can take a toll on your creativity and enthusiasm. When you feel yourself going into zombie-mode at work, get up and get your blood flowing with a brisk walk around the building. Or if you have the opportunity, relocate for an hour or two and do your work in an empty office, conference room or even outdoors or at a coffee shop. Another way to freshen up your surroundings is to rearrange your workspace. Put up new pictures and change the position of your desk or computer. Anything that livens up your physical environment will help you feel more invigorated on the job.

Look at Your Work with a New Perspective. The daily grind can make you feel “ho hum” about your job if you’re not careful. To create a more interesting work environment, try giving your attitude a face lift. Your perspective makes a huge impact on your job satisfaction and performance. If you go to work saying, “Today’s going to be a great day. I’m going to accomplish a lot,” you’ll have a much better day than if you start the morning saying, “I can’t wait until Friday.” Making the effort to see your work in a positive light will allow you to infuse creativity and add a little extra zip into your routine. Focus on doing your best, even with small everyday tasks. Challenge yourself to do your work faster and more efficiently. Looking for ways to improve the status quo can keep you from becoming apathetic about your job.

Nobody wants to spend their working hours feeling bored or dreaming of being someplace else. To chase the “blahs” away, strive to make each day a little better than the one before by making simple changes in your routine, workspace and attitude.

Do you struggle to stay energized throughout the work week? What helps you stay motivated on the job?