• Silver Ceiling Argunments / Pro

- Retirement means loss of knowledge to the company
- Older employees are willing to stay until retirement (benefit for the company)
- People who are reluctant to learn new concepts are so at any age
- Hire invaluable wisdom – employ people because of their age, not in spite of it
- Senior workers want to make use of their knowledge and experience in a balanced environment (work/life) and they want to feel esteemed – a fitting environment will produce engaged and very loyal seniors for the company who transfer their knowledge to the younger ones

• Silver Ceiling: Points of interest for women

- The silver ceiling is probably lower for women than for men
- Early retirement is a higher risk for women with children (they cannot return for a short period between motherhood and retirement)
- Our society will only survive with children and with skilled workers – so you have to attract young people to start families in an environment that integrates private and professional needs and gives them a chance to save enough for longer retirement
- The social security systems are growing more instable and insecure, women will suffer more from decreasing income in old age because of lower wages

We claim that diversity is fruitful for society and companies, age is an important aspect of diversity

• Silver Segment: Threats and Opportunities

- There might arise a clash of generations as the active work-force cannot pay enough to support the seniors at a level similar to that they secured in their active phase for the predecessing generation
- There will be many role models in the retired society, they can play an important part in supporting active professional women
- All companies producing consumer goods have to make sure to fulfill the needs of an ageing population
- Political parties have to face a majority of seniors that can decide nearly any election
- Health, wellness and individual comfort are the most important topics for this group