Many companies won't hire older workers.

While the tradition of respect for elders has been a very welcome part of living in Asia, the flip side is a seeming attitude among some that those nearing retirement age are doddering or infirm.

But, as Uncle Haipeng has so eloquently shown, many of us in this age bracket are actually at the height of our abilities. We have a ton of experience, backed by a lifetime of learning. With maturity, in many cases, comes a solid work ethic.

Of course, beyond the Jing Haipeng factor, demographics are necessitating some changes.

China's official retirement age was adopted six decades ago when life expectancy was much lower, and it has not been adapted to match economic and social development, Yin Weimin, minister of human resources and social security, noted early this year. China has become an aging society, and the concern is having enough younger workers to keep things running smoothly as large numbers of older workers retire.

The government has said it intends to eventually phase in higher retirement ages, but it's taking it slowly. No one wants to deny elders the benefits they've earned, and there's the issue of younger workers having jobs and promotion opportunities.

But I would submit that forcing retirement on productive older workers who want to keep working means squandering a resource. Indeed, younger workers can benefit greatly by learning from older mentors.

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