PRIVATE-SECTOR HIRING AND USE OF RETIREES - THE FIRMS PERSPECTIVE

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.