Ask An Expert: Recruiting older staff

How can I attract older staff?Q I've heard older workers are more reliable behind the bar. Is this true, and how to do I go about getting them to join my pub?

A Older workers and younger workers want different things from work. Younger workers might be interested in money and a career path; older workers are looking for flexibility on hours, a good atmosphere to work in - and respect.You have to ask yourself whether your pub is suitable for an older person to work in.

An older person might want to work in a pub which offers the chance to converse with customers and even where there may be familiar faces.

One of the most important things as an employer of an older person is that you should be prepared to offer flexible hours. If someone just wants to work the same two shifts each week you have to be prepared to look at that in return for what they offer during those hours - whether it's reliability, someone who knows the regulars by sight and what they drink, and so on.

You also have to be prepared to treat the employee with respect, as a peer rather than an employee, while making clear what is expected of them.

Older staff can bring experience and it's important to allow such people to get on with their job without constant supervision.

In summary, if you're prepared to meet older people half way, they can bring something to your pub which wouldn't otherwise be there.

Nigel Sapsed is a recruitment consultant who has placed many of today's pubco board directors in their current roles​