Benefits May 15, 2002

Japanese Firm to Hire Older Workers

May 15, 2002 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - In an effort to mine the experience and expertise of older workers, a Japanese employee-leasing firm has announced plans to hire 1,000 workers aged 50 to 70, Dow Jones reported.

Reported by

Fred Schneyer

Orix Corp. said it would bring on the new workers through its recently established temporary staffing agency. Orix plans to recruit middle-aged and elderly people who have either retired from other firms at the mandated retirement age of 60 or those who have left their firms earlier.

Potential employees will be interviewed about their previous work experience, qualifications, foreign language competence, and other areas of expertise.

The temporary employees will be sent to any of the 40 domestic group firms that need them, including Orix itself, its auto-leasing firms, consumer finance firm, brokerage, and baseball team

Dow Jones said Orix would use flextime scheduling with the older workers such as working every other day or for a few hours a week. Those who can devote full time may be hired as a manager, the company said.

Orix decided to have 10% of its 10,000-member workforce made up of older workers. It is expected to become increasingly difficult to find qualified younger employees as Japan’s population ages, Dow Jones said.