Keeping Up! Older Workers’ Adaptation in the Workplace after Age 55

How do older workers keep up and adapt to a changing workplace after age 55? In exploring that question, this study specifically examined how age-related changes affect workers, how older workers deal with a loss of resources, how they engage in life management, and why some are more successful than...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal on aging 2014-03, Vol.33 (1), p.1-14
Main Authors: Ng, Eddy S. W, Law, Alan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Adaptation, Psychological
Age
Aging
Baby boomers
Compensation
Delivery of Health Care - statistics & numerical data
Employees
Employers
Female
Humans
Industry - statistics & numerical data
Interviews
Job Satisfaction
Labor force
Labor shortages
Labour force
Male
Management
Management of change
Middle Aged
Older workers
Optimization
Organizational change
Salaries and Fringe Benefits
Skilled workers
Social Support
Stereotypes
Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Theory
Work place
Workers
Workforce
Workplace - psychology
Workplaces
Younger workers
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Summary:How do older workers keep up and adapt to a changing workplace after age 55? In exploring that question, this study specifically examined how age-related changes affect workers, how older workers deal with a loss of resources, how they engage in life management, and why some are more successful than others. An in-depth analysis was undertaken using 32 semi-structured interviews conducted with workers aged 55 to 64. Findings revealed that older workers use various strategies to adapt to a change in resources, and that these strategies help them cope and maintain their functioning in the workplace. Because older workers require different types of employer support, this study offers an understanding of how employers can provide that support to encourage older workers to remain in the workforce longer. Several avenues for future research are suggested, including an exploration of the role played by internal sources of support.
ISSN:0714-9808
1710-1107
DOI:10.1017/S0714980813000639