business
Getting Past the Bias
AGEISM IS A REALITY, BUT HR MANAGERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO
RECOGNIZE IT IN THE WORKPLACE AND TAKE ACTION AGAINST IT
By Joel Kranc
HR professionals will inevitably
be dealing with an aging workforce,
if they are not already doing
so. But with an aging workforce
comes issues, sometimes misconceptions
and stereotypes that are hard to overcome.
Older workers will face some of these obstacles
put in front of them when entering
or re-entering the workforce.
“The Business Case for Hiring
Experienced Workers” was a panel discussion
presented at the Human Resources
Professionals Association (HRPA)’s 2016
Annual Conference and Trade Show, and
looked at the issues facing older workers
and how HR might address it within its
own context or culture. The panel was
moderated by Michael McMullen, MBA,
professional services and workforce development
associate and chair of the
Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and
consisted of the following participants:
■■ Janice Gair, CEC, CHRP – Executive
coach and HR strategist
■■ Dr. Rehman Abdulrehman – Clinical
psychologist and associate professor,
University of Manitoba Medical
Faculty
■■ Lt. Col Paul Fredenburg – Retired Oct.
2015 from the Canadian Forces
■■ Lauren Bernardi, LL.B – Bernardi
Human Resource Law LLP
■■ Dr. Marie Bountrogianni – Dean,
The Raymond Chang School at
Ryerson University and former MPP
(Hamilton); clinical psychologist
■■ Susan Eng – vice president, Advocacy
at CARP, lobbyist and advocate
THE PROBLEM
Part of the problem, says Rehman, is
the inherent biases we all possess in our
daily lives.
“Bias is a belief that we hold,” he said.
“The interesting thing is that we become
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HRPATODAY.CA ❚ MAY/JUNE 2016 ❚ 55