Boomers Who Lack Technology Skills – What do we do about Baby Boomers and those older who lack basic technology skills?

While the vast majority of Boomers have adapted well to the evolution of today’s technology, there are a few holdouts. Regardless of their reasons or resistance, they need to make this transition as soon as possible. The best place to begin is by meeting with each to explain that it is no longer acceptable to not use appropriate technology on the job. Do not allow them to debate you as to whether they can do their job just as well without these skills. The next step is to provide each one with a technology coach, someone to whom they can turn to with questions. Preferably, this should be an age peer who is willing to be both patient and direct. If they continue to work around the technology, remove the opportunity. In one case, the manager of a recreation center came in after hours and removed all the paper forms her scheduling assistant had stashed in secret places. While there was some discomfort the next morning, the assistant finally adjusted to the new system recognizing that her job could be online.