May 2007: <<< back to Downloads
In this issue:
The more we monitor the news being published and broadcast about the over 50s, the more we’re struck by the increasingly polarised view of us as either the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. For example, on the one hand we’re told that we are a hugely affluent group with ‘triple the amount of savings compared to 50 years ago’ (see the intune research below), whereas, on the other, we’re informed that millions of us cannot afford to retire and will have to go on ‘working till we drop’.
Similarly, headlines proclaim that the over 50s are the healthiest age group alive, whilst others warn us that we face an increasing number of years in ill health, post-retirement, when compared to other generations.
There isn’t even any consensus over our skills and interests. For example, one piece of research reveals that our age group is adopting the internet faster than any other, with the proportion of over-50s using the internet to shop, chat to friends, pursue hobbies and study having doubled over the past five years; whilst also warning us that ‘a significant number of us risk being left behind’.
Where does this leave us? Quite frankly, totally bemused. So heaven only knows what other people – particularly employers – make of it.
We believe the confusion is caused by lumping everyone together simply because we share a common age – generally expressed as ‘over 50’. As you know, we fervently oppose the notion that the over 50s should be bracketed with the ‘elderly’ in the first place, as there can be as much as 50 years difference between either end of this age scale. And that’s before we get onto the range of other characteristics that may differentiate us from each other – which is absolutely huge!
End of rant for now. But looking at it this way makes it easy to see where stereotypes and prejudices come from, doesn’t it? Lies, damned lies – and statistics.
From Pipe And Slippers To Passport And Flip Flops
The first ever report comparing the lifestyles of today's over 50s with their counterparts in 1957 has just been published, revealing that many of us are enjoying double the retirement period and living a lifestyle that more closely resembles that of a 25 year old in 1957. Time spent shopping, socialising and playing sport have replaced that spent on domestic duties 50 years ago, with the over 50s today splashing-out the equivalent of six times more on holidays and travel than those of the same age in the 1950s.
Research undertaken by The Future Foundation, for insurance providers intune shows that although much has changed in the past 50 years across all age groups, it is life after 50 that has experienced the greatest demographic and social shifts.
Martin Lloyd-Elliott, psychologist, comments: 'While our modern society is apparently so biased towards youth culture, a more radical and transformative change has occurred amongst the over fifties that leaves teenagers lagging behind. Today 50 is closer to the middle of our life than to its end with many economical and psychological factors bringing this change. Psychologically, there has been a shift from a 'closing down' expectation for the second half of life towards a much more optimistic 'opening up of new doors' spirit of good times ahead.'
With today's retirees set for an average of 18½ years of post-retirement life, almost double compared to 50 years ago, people are optimising their increased leisure time and affluence and living life to the full. Savings for this age group have also witnessed a significant rise, even when taking into account inflation, the over 50s have triple the amount of savings compared to 50 years ago. For more detail click here.
Work more productively – work flexibly
Today, Friday May 18 is National Work from Home Day. What it means is that Work Wise UK, a not-for-profit initiative which supports the introduction of smarter working practices is encouraging employers to let their staff work from home for a day, so that everyone can experience the benefits. The idea is not to give a day off for those participating, but to demonstrate that without the stress induced by the workplace environment and the long commute most have to endure, people can be more productive occasionally working from home (assuming you have the sort of job that can be done from home)..
We applaud the initiative for the simple reason that a significant amount of research undertaken with older workers and those who have already retired shows that the majority of us would be prepared to stay longer in employment or return to work post-retirement if more flexible working options were available. At this age many of us need and/or want to work for a wide variety of reasons, but we also have many other ambitions, interests and claims on our time.
Our particular interest is in encouraging employing organisations to introduce flexible working schemes for all employees in order to enable each individual employee to benefit from appropriate work/life balance, whatever their stage of life. Obviously this can only be done without damage to productivity, but again evidence shows that flexible working produces numerous increased benefits for employers, including:
Smarter working can take a number of forms, some very simple, with few cost implications, through to full organisation-wide workflow reviews. It can apply to any business or organisation, from large multinational companies and the public sector right down to small businesses and the self-employed.
Allowing flexible working hours - the small step of enabling staff to come in or leave at different times - if adopted by enough companies, would 'stagger' the rush hour spreading it out and making it less intense, reducing road congestion and overcrowding on public transport, reducing travel time and making it a less stressful part of the day for everyone.
Allowing flexible working location - encouraging staff to work from more convenient locations such as from home or whilst on the move, could significantly enhance productivity, reduce travelling time and improve quality of life. Even providing access to satellite offices, hot desks or other facilities more strategically located could reduce travelling distance and time further.
Technology has an important role to play in facilitating smarter working practices. Although the latest advances in mobile technology and the continuing widespread growth in the adoption of broadband is enabling these practices to be implemented, smarter working is not just about technology: it is also about changing culture, changing the way people work and giving them the skills to work smarter.
For further information see www.workwiseuk.org
Franchising – a tried and tested way to start or grow a business
Starting a business sounds appealing, but there’s no getting round the fact that it’s a big risk – particularly in your later years. Statistics show that the majority of new businesses fail within their first three years, so it’s worth considering any option which may reduce that risk and increase the likelihood of success.
For many people, franchising is an attractive way forward. It enables you to benefit from the experience of others and get your business up and running more quickly than starting from scratch. However, it comes at a price and does involve a certain lack of freedom. But if you are contemplating self-employment, it’s well worth finding out more before making up your mind.
At the other end of the business spectrum, you may already have a successful business and be wondering if you might be able to develop it further through franchising. Certainly it can be a very profitable way forward for the right sort of venture with a strong business model to build on. But – doing so isn’t that easy. You, too, probably need to find out more.
A good starting point may be our new fact sheet published this month with the assistance of the British Franchise Association. Additionally, if you’re north of the Border, you can visit the The Scottish Franchise Exhibition – 8th & 9th June, Glasgow SECC. This is the climax of Scottish Franchise Week and an ideal opportunity to see the breadth of opportunities available to prospective franchisees in Scotland. For further information about this and other Franchising shows see www.thebfa.org.
If you already run a franchise, we’d love to receive your comments and feedback on how it works for you. Click here to contact us.
Get moving - or you’ll be asked to explain why not
Sometimes we wonder if you can’t take concern too far. In their latest bout of anxiety about our health, GPs are being urged by worried ‘health chiefs’ to run routine exercise checks on patients turning 50 who, they maintain, are not doing anything like the amount of physical activity needed to stave off heart disease and other disabling conditions.
The call was made in a policy blueprint presented to MPs by the British Heart Foundation last week, as part of a new UK-wide campaign it is running. The 30 a Day campaign promotes every day activities, such as washing the car, vacuuming the house, or gardening, as ways of clocking up the recommended 30 minutes of moderate activity on at least five days of the week.
The Foundation says that older people must exercise more if they are to maintain mobility, wellbeing, and good health into older age. The policy blueprint urges all Health Boards and PCTs to develop incentives for GPs to prescribe exercise, and to ensure that people with long term conditions can access rehabilitation that includes physical exercise.
GP Dr Mike Knapton, director of prevention and care at the British Heart Foundation, said: "GPs should, as a matter of course, be discussing this issue with their patients. Fitness checks at 50 and again at 60 could improve the health of the nation substantially and could save the NHS millions of pounds.”
Whilst this is all good stuff and necessary for some, it does seem rather reminiscent of school. (And what about the 30 and 40 year olds – why should they be excused games?) Actually the campaign website looks quite good - see www.bhf.org.uk/30aday for further details and to order an information pack
Book of the month
Teenage – the creation of youth 1875-1945, by Jon Savage, published by Chatto and Windus April 2007
For those of us now experiencing and helping shape the emergence of a new generation – the yet to be named, prime time, 50 to 70 year olds – this is a fascinating and informative read. Like teenagers, we share an identity, interests, and a common sense of power and purpose, and in this wide-ranging exploration of the emergence of the first ‘teenagers’ (of which we were part) there can be seen many interesting parallels.
From commerce and advertising, through music, art, dance and fashion, Teenage shows how the endless efforts of adults to contain and control were always confronted by the rebellious ideals of young people determined to make their own way. Its story covers two world wars, one which obliterated the dreams of a romantic generation and the other which unleashed the power of America – and the teenager – on the world.
‘Teenage is the definitive history of youth in revolt, from the gaslight age to the dawn of rock. Jon Savage captures the hell and adventure of adolescence with stunning detail and the thrilling force of the first Ramones album.’ David Fricke, Rolling Stone.