How do employers think about older workers?
Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management
ISSN: 1746-5648
Article publication date: 14 September 2021
Issue publication date: 30 May 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Higher pensionable age in many countries that are part of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and a shrinking pension income force older people to postpone their retirement. Yet, age-based discrimination in employers' decisions is a significant barrier to their employment. Hence, this paper aims to explore employers' attitudes regarding the employment of workers aged 60–70, striving for a better understanding of age discrimination.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 30 managers, experts and employees in retirement age in Israel.
Findings
Findings reveal a spectrum of employers' attitudes toward the employment of older workers. The authors' analytical contribution is a conceptual typology based on employers' perceived ability to employ older workers and their stated attitudes toward the employment of older workers.
Social implications
The insights that emerge from this research are fundamental for organizational actors' ability to expand the productive, unbiased employment of older workers.
Originality/value
By understanding employers' preferences and perspectives and the implications on employers' ability and/or willingness to employ older workers, this research will help policymakers formulate and implement policy innovations that address these biases.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research, on which this paper is based, was supported by Yitzhak Shamir Scholarship to returning scientists given by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Israel, to the first author. The authors are also extremely grateful to Vehadarata association for their help and support.
Conflict of Interest – None
Funding: The research was supported by Yitzhak Shamir Scholarship to returning scientists given by the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology. This study was also partially supported by research grant 2760/61 from the Israel Science Foundation to Noah Lewin-Epdstein. And partially supported by a research grant from the Alfred A. Sloan Foundation “Working Longer: Synthesizing Findings from Sloan's Working Longer Program for Academic Leaders”.
Citation
Axelrad, H., Kalev, A. and Lewin-Epstein, N. (2022), "How do employers think about older workers?", Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 201-220. https://doi.org/10.1108/QROM-10-2019-1830
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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