As retirements accelerate in many governments, what kinds of changes are on the horizon?
Center President/CEO Elizabeth Kellar spoke about the future of work at the National League of Cities Conference last month.
Evaluate HR policies
Even though local governments have been consumed with fiscal pressures, “now is the time to evaluate your organization’s human resources policies,” Kellar said.
- Do you know what is important to current and future employees?
- Do you have a workforce plan? What are your demographics, talent gaps, needs, and development plans?
- Are you bringing young people into your organizations? Do you offer internships?
- Do you have a sound benefits policy?
Cultivate an intergenerational workforce
Local governments have been shedding jobs due to the recession (416,000 jobs, including education, have disappeared since September 2008), but at some point, they will be hiring again. In the meantime, organizations need to cultivate an intergenerational workforce that appeals to all ages.
“Cross-cutting assignments appeal to younger workers who are eager for leadership opportunities,” Kellar said. “Many younger workers are looking for outlets for their environmental interests and may have ideas on how the organization save energy costs or make other environmentally prudent changes.”
Offer flexibility
Flexibility in the workplace can be important to all employees – and especially for individuals with family responsibilities. Such employees may be particularly interested in part-time work, telework, and four-day work weeks. And, as more employees head for the exit, there may be a need to develop financially sound return-to-work policies for retirees
Retirements on the rise
Some states and localities have seen a dramatic increase in retirements while others say their retirement-eligible employees are delaying retirement. Bloomberg News reported that
- New Jersey teacher retirements were up 95 percent last year;
- Wisconsin retirements were up 73 percent this year;
- New York and New Jersey state worker retirements were up 60 percent.
CalPERS, the nation’s largest public pension fund, projects 31,800 retirements in 2010 after seeing retirements jump 22.6 percent in 2009 and 18 percent in 2008.
Changes in compensation packages have been driving the speed of retirements in some places. But the fact is, state and local workers are older and more educated than their counterparts in the private sector. Getting a sound plan to address the current and future talent needs of government is a priority now.
