Community input is to guide a campaign by the charity Age Concern to tackle what seniors have described as persistent hurdles to gaining fairer employment.

The group launched a workforce equity campaign today, “Hire the Experience”, to solicit feedback aimed at driving “meaningful cultural, organisational and policy changes that ensure people of all ages can thrive at work”.

Mercedes Pringle-DeSilva, the charity’s executive director, said Age Concern’s clients had reported challenges ranging from “missed opportunities to workplace prejudice”.

The charity said its online survey aimed to expose barriers, amplify voices and “guide legislative, organisational and cultural reforms for systemic change”.

The effect of age on employment has featured in recent years in topics such as emigration by seniors, and the Government’s raising of the mandatory retirement age for public service workers in 2019 by three years, to 68.

Ms Pringle-DeSilva said: “As Bermuda’s population ages, the contribution of older workers has never been more valuable.”

Older workers can bring valuable “mentorship, reliability and lived experience” to the workplace, she added.

“We are committed to doing something about it, and we need the community's help.”

The campaign’s online survey comes in three parts.

A “public perceptions and experiences survey” invites residents to share “the challenges older workers may face, how people of all ages experience hiring and career growth, and what the community knows about workforce equity”, aimed at guiding policy change.

Older adults can also select the “share your story” option to give positive as well as negative experiences in the workplace.

Age Concern said that, with the consent of respondents, their accounts could feature in the charity’s Hire the Experience awareness campaign.

A third portion of the survey targets employers and human resources professionals, enabling Age Concern to explore “how workplace policies and practices support age inclusion”, along with gathering views on retirement, training and accommodation.

Ms Pringle-DeSilva said: “Creating a fairer workforce is not only about protecting rights — it's about unlocking value.

“Every older adult who is able to continue contributing strengthens our businesses, our economy and our community.”

The surveys, now open, will bolster advocacy and programme development, Age Concern said.