SINGAPORE — At Unity Pharmacy outlets, bottled drinks are placed next to the cashier counters not only as a last-chance enticement to customers or for their convenience, but also because it spares Unity’s older employees from the back-breaking task of dragging them out of the storeroom.

Over at On Cheong Jewellery, the trolleys used to move jewellery items into the store’s strongroom have been downsized so that older workers have an easier time pushing them as they go about their duties every day.

These are just two examples of how companies are redesigning their work environment and job scope to ensure the workplace is friendly and safe for older employees.

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the employment rate of older residents has been rising steadily in the past few years.

A record 61.2 per cent of residents aged 55 to 64 worked last year, compared to 59 per cent in 2010.

“With the right training and modifications to workplaces and job scopes, older workers can be just as productive as workers,” it added.

At the Workplace Safety and Health Conference held in September this year, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam called for employers to ensure a safe workplace for the increasing number of older workers, adding that the safety and health demands for this group can be very different from those of a younger workforce.

In line with efforts to promote the employment of older workers, the MOM and Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC) have rolled out the national workplace health strategy for companies, which involves adopting a more holistic approach to workplace health so that workers can have a prolonged working life capacity.

“Reducing the incidence of workplace ill-health will also ensure that people retire healthier, and could help reduce healthcare costs in the longer term,” said a WSHC spokesperson.

Almost half of On Cheong’s 42 employees are above the age of 55. Other than replacing its equipment, it has also improved on its workstation designs to give its sales executives a choice to work sitting or standing.

“We engaged a risk consultant to help us identify the likely hazards associated with each job step. For example, (as) our sales executives are required to stand for a long time when serving customers, we found that this might result in problems like leg pains, varicose veins and circulatory problems — thus the modifications,” said its spokesperson.

To reduce the strain of heavy lifting, the company also moved the strongroom from the second storey to the ground floor.

Beyond the physical

Communication is also key to creating a conducive environment for older workers, as Mr Edwin Lee, General Manager of the Tanglin Mall branch of Unity Pharmacy, discovered after attending a course conducted by the Centre for Seniors (CFS).

The full-day course, called Understanding and Communicating Effectively with Mature Employees, covers six modules of communication skills and bonding with older workers, while providing insight into life-stage issues and concerns and age-associated physical and psychological changes as a person grows older.

To liven things up, participants learn through role play, where they wear goggles and gloves to experience what being an elderly person feels like.

CFS General Manager Peter Fong said: “One of the biggest challenges facing organisations is the intergenerational gap that exists between employees. This is especially so for those who have just joined the workforce, and those in middle management.

“There is sometimes a lack of understanding, miscommunication, or disagreements in the way things are handled by those in Generation X, Generation Y and Gen-Z. CFS has always promoted intergenerational courses where we have attendees of all ages in the same class setting taking part in open discussions.”

Mr Lee, who manages four workers all above the age of 55, said he picked up useful tips that could be applied on day-to-day basis.

“For example, I learned that when I am teaching or instructing them, I need to confirm, to ask if they understand, instead of telling them something and expecting them to get it straightaway,” he said. “Sometimes, communications-wise, it’s also good to speak to them in dialect as they might not be very good in English.”