Ageing Organisations and the Extension of Working Lives: A Case Study Approach

Abstract

This paper examines how the economic climate and policy changes at national level have been affecting organisational practices, aimed at the extension of working lives of older workers, over the last decade. We analyse case studies conducted among Dutch organisations. Our findings show that personnel policies are typically short-term oriented and vary in their existence and content congruous to the economic climate. Policy changes in retirement arrangements, and the debate about raising the official retirement age, have made both employees and employers realise that the extension of working lives has become an unavoidable fact, although both parties still seem intrinsically opposed to it. Changes to safety regulations and the increase in costs for employers if employees drop out of work due to ill health have led to an increasing focus on health-related measures in professions with intense physical work over the last decade. We conclude that, while national level policy changes in areas like health and safety do percolate down and begin to affect organisational practice, it is at the organisational level that they still need to be worked through.

Institutional and socio-economic drivers of work-to-retirement trajectories in the Netherlands

“…However, scenarios are possible where early retirement is rather involuntary, e.g. following the down-sizing or reorganisation of a firm (Conen, Henkens and Schippers 2014). Moreover, early retirement packages do not always necessarily provide a sufficient financial basis for withdrawing from the labour market entirely (Dingemans and Henkens 2014; Vickerstaff and Cox 2005).…”

“…Moreover, physical working conditions as well as psycho-social factors in the workplace have been found to either create possibilities for continuing careers or push workers out from the labour force (Dal Bianco, Trevisan and Weber 2015; Van Solinge and Henkens 2014), while potentially moderating the effects of poor health on labour market exit (Van den Berg, Elders and Burdorf 2010). Therefore, it is important to take into account factors at the firm level as well when analysing the effects of retirement arrangements on individual trajectories (Conen, Henkens and Schippers 2014).…”

Dealing with an aging workforce: Locating threats and opportunities in corporate media

“…However, crucial solutions in the employability debate exceed the power of individual workers, as institutional and organizational factors are vital when it comes to fostering older workers' employability (Loretto & White, 2006b). For example, labor agreements, such as wage settings, are negotiated in central bargaining agreements between employers' and employee associations (Conen, 2013). Therefore, they exceed the influence of individual older workers.…”

Increasing the Pensionable Age: What Changes Are OECD Countries Making? What Considerations Are Driving Policy?

“…Whereas there had been some resistance from employers, Conen, Henkens and Schippers (2014) [37] who analyzed case studies among Dutch organizations found that employers have started to adjust to the rise in the official retirement age in terms of health and safety regulations, and increasing training for senior workers [38].…”