Recent public policy and Australian older workers

Taylor, Philip; Earl, Catherine; McLoughlin, Christopher

doi:10.1002/j.1839-4655.2016.tb00375.x

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Yet, early retirement has not entirely disappeared from retirement income frameworks, with most OECD countries retaining it in some form (OECD, 2019). In Australia, a range of measures in support of prolonging working lives have been initiated, including the establishment of the role of Age Discrimination Commissioner and the pushing out of the age at which a person can receive the Age [State] Pension (Taylor et al, 2016). However, while under Australian law there are prohibitions concerning compulsory retirement (Patterson, 2004), provision also exists for employers to implement voluntary early retirement schemes.…”

Section: Early Retirement Remains Popular But Is Criticisedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers and patterns of early retirement in the neoliberal university

Taylor

Gringart

Webb

et al. 2022

Econ. labour relat. rev.

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This article increases understanding of university labour processes. The antecedents and characteristics of early retirement schemes implemented by Australian universities between 2010 and 2020 were considered. Twenty-eight schemes were identified across 20 universities. Content analysis of descriptions of the schemes contained in official documents was undertaken. This revealed somewhat common justifications for the schemes, linked to concerns about organisational sustainability/resilience in the face of external threats and the implementation of modernising efforts. Such justifications appeared to be underpinned by similar ageist biases on the part of management. Despite this broad commonality, however, the schemes manifested a multifurcation of possible work-retirement pathways across institutions. Such reorganisation of labour processes, based on ageist representations that potentially place established workers in conflict with others, represents an incongruence between the market-oriented objectives of universities and areas of public policy responding to workforce ageing. It is argued that drawing momentum from emerging conceptions of sustainability and current diversity initiatives such as Athena Swan and Age Friendly Universities it may be possible to sever the link university leadership perceive between the divestment of older workers and the fulfilment of modernising agendas. JEL Codes: J26, J71, J78

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Section: Early Retirement Remains Popular But Is Criticisedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers and patterns of early retirement in the neoliberal university

Taylor

Gringart

Webb

et al. 2022

Econ. labour relat. rev.

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“…The ageing of the Australian population has led to much public policy and debate focused on the need to prolong working lives in order reduce welfare costs and to respond to projected shortfalls in labour as large numbers of older workers retire (Taylor et al , 2016). While issues of older people's employment have not solely been considered through an age discrimination lens, in Australia the potential importance of this issue has garnered much attention in recent years.…”

Section: Recent Advocacy Concerning Age Discrimination and Older Peop...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The enduring myth of endemic age discrimination in the Australian labour market

Taylor

Earl

2021

Ageing and Society

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It has often been stated by older people's advocates that discrimination affecting older people is commonplace and ongoing in the Australian labour market. In this article, we contrast such rhetoric with a review of evidence from recent large-scale surveys which demonstrates that low and declining numbers of Australians experience age discrimination, while highlighting the complexity of the phenomenon. We identify the emergence of a fake ‘age’ advocacy that is acting to the detriment of an informed public discourse concerning issues of older workers’ employment. To counter this we propose five underlying principles for advocacy on ageing and work: countering myths concerning the extent and nature of age barriers in the labour market; avoiding and challenging the use of age stereotypes in making the business case for older workers’ employment; recognition that age interacts in complex ways with a range of other factors in determining people's experiences of the labour market; challenging public understanding that is grounded in the notion that generational conflict is inevitable; and discarding traditional notions of the lifecourse in order to overcome disjunctions and contradictions that hamper efforts to encourage and support longer working lives.

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“…(p. 143). Taylor, Earl and Mcloughlin [36] reported that recent evidence appears to indicate a growing acceptance of older workers in response to expected labor shortages and "that significant proportions of employers anticipate an ageing of their workforces" (p, 243). Taylor, Rolland and Zhou [37] provided a useful guide on the employment of older Australian workers that encompasses advocacy actions and approaches for developing a workforce culture that does not discriminate against older workers (see also Ackerman & Kanfer, 2020 [38]; Settles, 2013 [39]; Taylor & Smith, 2017 [40]; Thornton & Luker, 2010 [41]).…”

Section: Rethinking Aging Societies: Facing the Longevity Revolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Living in an Age of Longevity: Enduring Insights and Perspectives for Embarking on a Quest for Health and Well-Being in Later Life

Seedsman¹

2021

OBM Geriatr

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While increases in life expectancy along with extended longevity can be seen as a success story, there remains the central issue surrounding the health and quality of life for increasing numbers of older people. As populations live longer the idea that older people should be empowered to remain active and productive citizens will be paramount. Questions concerning the meaningfulness, purpose and desirability of living longer present an existential challenge for all and sundry. It is clear, that the speed of population aging has made many existing policies, support services and social structures obsolete and thereby societies worldwide will need to face the profound challenges of rethinking aging and old age in wholly different ways. The need to combat ageism including a re-conceptualization of successful aging is seen to be a critical undertaking to promote healthy and productive aging. In particular, understanding the lived experiences of older people warrants deeper focus surrounding the complex interconnections between agency, social structures and quality of life. Insights and perspectives on human finitude, resilient aging, and self-care are offered for the purpose of highlighting their prospective associations with health outcomes in later life. Human longevity presents new realities demanding serious collaborative conversations on heterogeneity, equity and social justice in the context of a rights-based approach to aging policy.

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Recent public policy and Australian older workers

Cited by 7 publications

References 15 publications

Drivers and patterns of early retirement in the neoliberal university

Drivers and patterns of early retirement in the neoliberal university

The enduring myth of endemic age discrimination in the Australian labour market

Living in an Age of Longevity: Enduring Insights and Perspectives for Embarking on a Quest for Health and Well-Being in Later Life

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