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Older Women:
Employment Options and Resources

Whether women are delaying retirement or returning from it, they are often choosing to stay in the workforce longer. In fact, 56 percent of the workforce was over 40 years of age in 2002. However, older women face several challenges in employment, from age discrimination to lack of employer provided training. They need not face these challenges alone. Many organizations are committed to helping older women create and continue workforce success.

Good Questions to Consider

• What are your current needs?
• What are your long range goals?
• Are you just “looking for something to do” or do you want to begin a new career?
• Would you be eligible to do consulting in your previous field?

Getting health and pension benefits in part-time or reduced hours is not guaranteed. Talk with your employer about what you will be gaining and what you will be giving up before making any changes.

Flexible Work Options
A growing number of workplaces include flexible work options to help employees balance work and personal responsibilities. Options vary, but some of the most common include:

Compressed Work Scheduling is when more hours are worked on some days so that less can be worked on others. For example, Monday through Thursday hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. so that Friday hours are 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Part Time Work is working less than 35 hours a week.

Job Sharing is when one full-time position is shared by two people who each work part-time hours. Some examples are each working one week on then one week off, each working four hour days or each working two and a half days a week.

Phased Retirement is gradually reducing hours before full retirement. Some pension benefits may be recieved while still working part time.

Telework/Telecommuting is working outside of the office (most likely from home).

Flexible Scheduling - With this option, the same number of hours per day are worked, but the start and end times are not traditional. For example, the day is from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Dept. of Labor Women’s Bureau - The Flex-Options for Women program and web site offers a simple yet thorough Flex-Options Guide as well as a resource center, tool kit and important news.

Visit the Women’s Bureau site online at www.dol.gov/wb and click on the Flex-Options for Women logo, or call the Women’s Bureau at 1-800-827-5335.

Women Work! Tip Sheet - For further flex option information and resources, Women Work! offers a Workplace Flexibility and Telecommuting Tip Sheet. To get a copy free of charge, visit the Resources and Services section of www.womenwork.org. This Tip Sheet is also available by calling Women Work! at 202-467-6346.

Training Resources
Department of Labor
Senior Community Service Empoyment Program (SCSEP) With the goal of promoting self-sufficiency for older adults, SCSEP provides job training and employment opportunities to its participants.

For more information on the SCSEP visit them online at www.doleta.gov/seniors
or contact the Employment and Training Administration at 1-877-US-2JOBS.

An SCSEP service is the Dept. of Labor’s One-Stop Career Centers, which offer training referrals, career counseling, job listings and more.

To find a One-Stop Career Center near you contact the Employment and Training Administration at 1-877-US-2JOBS.

You can also visit them online at www.doleta.gov. Click on State and Local Resources in the bottom right hand corner.

Employment Resouces
American Association for Retired Persons (AARP)
The AARP provides an array of services in the Careers after 50 section of their web site.

Visit the AARP online at www.aarp.org, or contact them at 1-888-OUR-AARP.

Seniors4Hire
Seniors4Hire is a service for older adults to post résumés or learn about new jobs as well as operating as a recruitment site.

Visit Seniors4Hire online at www.seniors4hire.org, or contact them at 714- 848-0996.

Third Age
Like AARP, Third Age has a variety of resources for mature adults, including information on careers and employment.

Visit ThirdAge online at www.thirdage.com.

The Service Locator
The Service Locator does just what it says; it helps to find out what employment services, such as One-Stop Career Centers, are nearby. This navigation service includes everything from labor market information to financial aid.

Visit The Service Locator online at www.servicelocator.org or contact them by calling CareerOneStop at 1-877-348-0502.

Résumé Tips
For information on effectively writing a résumé to highlight past experience,
Women Work! offers a Writing Your Résumé Tip Sheet. Visit the Resources and Services section of www.womenwork.org. This Tip Sheet is also available by calling Women Work! at 202-467-6346.

Age Discrimination
Definition of Age Discrimination:
Discrimination because of age, 40 or above, in hiring and other terms and conditions of employment. (Although helpful when bringing legal action, it is not necessary to show that a younger person was hired or received an employment benefit.)

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
This law promotes employment based on a person’s ability to do their job and not on their age. It prohibits hiring and firing decisions based on age. The ADEA also forbids mandatory retirement at a certain age for nearly all employees.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is the best place to find more information on age discrimination, including how to file a claim of suspected discrimination. Visit www.eeoc.gov, find the link named Discrimination by Type and click on “Age.” The EEOC is also available by phone at 1-800-669-4000.

Tip sheet last updated 07/07