This article examines the hiring and utilization of retiree workers am
ong U.S. firms with 20 or more employees (e.g., the hiring process, wo
rker history with the company, scheduling, task assignment, relationsh
ip with other employees). Over 46% of private sector firms in this pop
ulation hire retirees. Few firms, however, have a written policy or fo
rmalized program directed at hiring retirees. While assignment of reti
ree workers to regularly performed operational tasks is universal, the
larger the firm, the more likely that a substantial proportion of the
se employees work in white-collar fields. Study results have practical
implications for employment counseling services, private sector firms
, and human resource specialists.