Attitudes Toward Older Workers and Human Resource Practices

Abstract

This study investigated attitudes towards older employees, perceived age discrimination, and HR practices (personnel development and reward) in 240 employees. Attitudes toward older employees were largely positive, thus supporting the notion that attitudes toward older employees are becoming increasingly positive. Older employees’ attitudes towards older employees were more positive, but younger employees’ attitudes were still favorable. Moreover, older and younger employees reported benefiting from HR measures, such as training, to a similar extent. Also, older employees did not feel more discriminated against than younger employees did, indicating that employees’ attitudes were in line with HR practices. Nevertheless, some results suggested that HR practices preferred younger to older employees, indicating that in some domains of personnel development and reward, positive attitudes toward older employees do not necessarily parallel organizational practices.