3. Knowledge transfer. When employees retire, years of institutional knowledge leave with them. Shifting knowledge from older employees to younger can be done in many ways, including:
Shoulder-to-shoulder project work where younger workers can learn from more experienced employees on the jobA systematic documentation of knowledge on processes, certain sections of municipalities, etc.Mentor and apprentice programs 4. Recycling the baby boomers. Baby boomers live to work. After retirement, many get bored. Reester hires back retirees on a part-time or project basis, and requires them to spend 10% of their time mentoring young professionals. This helps his department span the workforce gap, and provides retirees with paid opportunities to continue contributing to the community.
If your department doesn't have a succession plan with these four steps in place, consider starting one now. It can take up to three years to build a strategic plan, says Reester.
UNTAPPED RESOURCESThe sheer numbers in the retiring generation exceed those of its succeeding generations by the millions. There are simply not enough replacements.
Part-time positions can fill the voids left by baby boomers, as well as the gaps in flexible work schedules. For example, with a part-timer covering mornings, a full-time employee can start his shift later in the day. Plus, the department won't have to pay benefits for part-timers.
Job-sharing is another cost-effective alternative. Two part-timers can share a full-time position, with one working the first part of the week and the other working the last part.
In addition to retirees, management consultant Voorhees advises that women—or men—with children who have the skills but don't want to work full-time are largely untapped sources.
Many departments are also lifting residency requirements. People don't move for jobs anymore, says Voorhees, so if a public agency wants a better talent pool it must open up its boundaries.
GETTING THE OKAYOne of the biggest obstacles to creating a work environment that appeals to young professionals is the city council.
“It is an uphill battle,” admits Reester. “And you won't win over some [public officials].”
To convince public officials to change policies, programs, and even salary and benefits packages to appeal to workers who are very much in demand:
Remind them that infrastructure represents the community's largest investment.Invite them to shadow employees for a day to better understand the department's daily challenges and needs.Benchmark the department's output as compared to that of local private-sector, public works departments, or even other city departments.Use outside resources to gain access to compensation studies. In Colorado, for example, Reester turns to the Mountain States Employment Council for comparisons on the number of employees, salary schedules, and benefits that other employers offer.These methods endorse a common theme: Educate public officials on the issues your department faces—in this case, a need to accommodate a younger workforce—and the solutions that are available. Discuss the differences between the exiting and entering generations of employees and what to do to effectively compete for new talent.
Successful succession begins with a plan.