THE AFTERTASTE OF RETIREMENT CAKE

摘要

Retirements are happy occasions - full of best wishes, sentimental gifts, embarrassing anecdotes and touching testimonials. Many companies proudly fete retirees, recognizing years of dedicated service and bestowing treasured parting gifts. After the last bite of cake, however, and after the lucky retiree heads off on a six-week cruise to the Seychelles Islands, the company must fill the shoes of the capable, experienced retiree. Over the next 10 years or so, this scenario will be played out tens of thousands of times at power utilities and generation companies around the country. Utility and plant managers will have to endure many upset stomachs—not from eating too much retirement cake—but from struggling with how to capture knowledge being lost, how to attract and retain new employees, and how to implement effective training programs. The power industry is painfully aware of the tremendous challenges associated with the aging workforce. Studies indicate a 50 percent retirement rate in the power industry in the next 5 to 10 years.