Seasoned Workforce™

REPORT ON ACTIVITY - RESULTS & SUGGESTIONS

Between October 1, 2009 and June 30, 2011 the following is a summary of the Company’s results and observations.   No forums were scheduled during the months of July and August 2010.

• 77 SEASONED WORKER FORUMS^® were presented around the State of Maine
• OVER 1900 PEOPLE attended forums at locations covering the State of Maine from York to Aroostook Counties.
• SEASONED WORKER FORUMS^® were held in Presque Isle, Houlton, Calais, Machias, Bangor, Ellsworth, Waterville, Wilton, Lewiston, Rockland, Augusta, Wiscasset, Brunswick, Brunswick Naval Air Station, Portland, Springvale and Wells.  The larger populated areas of Central and Southern Maine had multiple forums.  For example an event was planned for Portland almost every month. 
• ATTENDANCE averaged over 25 participants at each event – including seasoned worker attendees, businesses, guests and observers.  That activity expands to over 7600 hours of direct discussion, suggestion and instruction during the time the Company was involved in the AWI Grant.
• 1572 SEASONED ATTENDEES completed a Questionnaire provided by the Company.  These signed and dated forms included an assortment of useful information (this was voluntarily completed by interested attendees and not required - most submitted a completed form).  Information is held in strict confidence and shared with businesses attending the forum, the Navigators, CareerCenter personnel and the Grant Manager.  
• FOLLOW-UP, within 7 to 10 days every seasoned person who filled out a questionnaire would receive a follow-up letter by email or US mail in the absence of an email address, the letter;
• summarized the major discussion points of the forum program
• proposed additional suggestions and service provider contacts
• provided current contact information for the representatives of all the businesses or organizations who participated in the forum
• offered other information, business contacts and other employment/educational services in their geographical area of Maine 

Many seasoned people responded to the follow-up letters and were referred to service providers, businesses and educational opportunities. These follow-up letters were wonderful possibilities to expand prospects for the attendees and to experiment with some new ideas.  There were several suggestions posed to the Grant Manager for additional follow-up by the Navigators but they were deemed unsustainable.

• BUSINESS PARTICIPATION was extraordinary. Over 50 businesses actively participated in the forums, several at multiple locations including LL Bean, Cianbro, Bonney Staffing, Manpower, Lowes, Entrepreneurs Source, Home Depot, Hannaford Supermarkets, FedEx. Maritime Energy, Maine Medical and others.  There were dozens of other small and mid-sized companies that collaborated but were unable to attend forums due to staff and workday restrictions but offered suggestions and supported the program.  Informal reports received from the partner businesses pointed to dozens of hires and an increased appreciation for the seasoned worker. 

The companies participating were able to communicate directly with the seasoned worker.  Specifically they were able to;

• hear and discuss the problems facing the seasoned worker
• discuss their company’s expectations and the skills sets necessary for the people they hired
• define their technology requirements and trends in their industries
• offer attendees additional advice on how to find employment
• become part of the attendees network of contacts

Discussing and sharing ideas and trends surrounding the issues of age-discrimination, optional work arrangements, benefits, compensation and other related concerns - an important educational opportunity for all those involved.  The results were consistent with the Seasoned Workforce^® LLC mission to be an advocate for both the seasoned worker and the companies that employed them.

• OVER 25 ORGANIZATIONS – governmental, non-profits representing schools, colleges, healthcare organizations, community action agencies, aging organizations and others attended the forums as guests and presenters.  The contributions from the groups enhanced the important substance of the discussions.  Many seasoned attendees were unaware of these organizations and their goals.  By participating the groups were able to encourage more volunteerism as well as provided more services and prospects for the seasoned worker. It was a win-win situation for everyone.
• ALL 12 MAINE’S CAREERCENTERS were involved with the forums as a sponsor and/or represented by staff from all areas of the State of Maine.  The number of people attending who had never used the services of the CareerCenter was surprisingly high.  As many as 75% of the people attending the Seasoned Worker Forums never had occasion to use the facilities or didn’t realize what they provided.  They were encouraged by what the CareerCenters had available and many more people began to avail themselves of these important services.
• 11 CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE assisted and encouraged the activities of the Company.  Several Chambers sponsored Seasoned Worker Forums® and participated in the programs and follow-up activities.  Many of the Chambers in Maine are very cognizant of the dilemmas facing their members being caused by the aging workforce – it is becoming increasing difficult to find reliable workers.

The Great Recession of 2008 is having a very negative affect on the memberships of the Chambers of Commerce all over Maine.  The problems seem universal across numerous industries and include:

• a flood of unemployed is affecting revenues for most local merchants
• plant closings and down-sizing are influencing taxes and governmental budgets putting a burden on critical local and regional services
• the problem of finding employees that have the technological skills needed for many growing, emerging and new business is daunting
• the lack of training programs and an unfocused general educational system is further complicating the issue

In September 2011 Maine Governor Paul LePage at a conference with a group of businesses, reported that with an unemployment number of 24,000 people the number of unfilled jobs hovers at 21,000.  Those businesses are looking at many new ideas for preparing the workforce both for today and into the future.  The State is looking at long term trends including the possibility of a five year high school/associate degree program, more charter schools and more emphasis on the sciences and technology.

The need for training programs continues to grow. Especially technology training for people over 30 who may not have had the opportunity to learn any of the new technologies - hardest hit are the seasoned workers (age 50 and older).  For now many Chambers of Commerce and their member businesses are taking on some of those actions by offering a wide variety of specific programs in the use of technology, web design, changes in the way to advertise, social networks, 21^st Century marketing techniques.  Focusing on the future, their markets, their business environment, taxes and regulation and especially a reliable workforce has made the Chambers of Commerce excellent partners and collaborators.  Their alliance is central between the public and private sectors if the necessary changes that are critical to economic growth and prosperity are to be defined and carried forward.

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE SEASONED WORKER FORUM^®

The design of the Seasoned Worker Forum^® is centered on a facilitator and the involvement of all the attendees - businesses, guests and seasoned worker attendees.  The event is scheduled for 3 to 4 hours and limited to 50 participants.

• The facilitator must be knowledgeable about the available services and trends in the labor market.  She/he should be prepared to offer consistent, truthful suggestions and advice in response to each participant’s presentation.
• Each business guest is asked to talk briefly about the qualifications they seek in new employees, possible opportunities with their companies and comments about how the seasoned worker can prepare themselves for jobs.  These presentations are scattered amid the comments of each attendee. 
• Each person attending is asked for their name, a little about their background and why they are attending the forum.
• Observers are encouraged to participate and all comments are welcomed.
• In practice every issue concerning the seasoned worker from age-discrimination to the economy to healthcare to workforce prospects are discussed at the forum.

The basic lesson presented centers on three key fundamentals (Triangle to Success);

• TECHNOLOGY – the need for seasoned people to acquire knowledge of computers and the internet as a tool in acquiring a job and a set of basic skills necessary for many jobs.  It is the technology sector where seasoned people have the most difficulty - they are consistently told that if they can read they can learn more about technology as a tool for the future.  They are also told it is not optional but necessary for many jobs and frequently necessary just to find a job. 
• NETWORKING – the single strongest area of soft skills most seasoned people possess is their interpersonal skills - most have established networks of people in family, friends, volunteer activities and community living.  They are encouraged to tap these resources, expand their networks, utilized volunteer activities, and find activities where they can talk face to face with people.  The key to networking is for them to develop an unique 30 to 45 second elevator (sales) speech about themselves and have a business card with their important contact information. 
• REINVENTION – Habits are difficult to change but with some direction, encouragement and work people can expand their life spaces and discover more opportunity.

BEST PRACTICES – In the private sector a major concern in every project is that the process leads to new ideas and innovation.  The Seasoned Worker Forum^® opened many new doors that focused more attention on the problems faced by the seasoned worker - primarily Baby Boomers the seasoned workers who make up the largest, healthiest, best educated generations in the history of man.  No longer can they be considered a special interest group but rather a major factor in the current and future stability and growth of the world economy here and abroad.

Equally important was the Company discovered that much of the dialogue with the seasoned worker is correspondingly important and useful for people of any age group and could be adapted for improved conversation and understanding of the changes in the economy regardless of age.

The forum concept can definitely be considered a “best practice”.  The results need to be evaluated and from these assessments more new ideas can be studied for all collaborators, government agencies, political leaders and the business community to help educate people about the workforce needs and opportunities of the 21^st Century World Economy.  The people who make up the seasoned population built the United States into the most powerful, progressive country on earth.  Their message is loud and clear – they want to, and need to be engaged, and are not finished contributing to their world.