Clarifying and Discussing Successful Aging at Work and the Active Role of Employees

Abstract

In this article, I clarify and further discuss 4 issues raised by Zacher in critically analyzing my perspective on successful aging at work and the active role of employees. First, I argue that the sustainability concept is a valuable and useful concept to better understand successful aging at work, and I aimed to integrate sustainability by taking a resource perspective, focusing on the importance of continuous person–environment fit in successful aging at work. Second, I argue that the maintenance in health, motivation, and work ability is an important criterion for successful aging at work. Third, I argue that since an active role of employees is increasingly important in contemporary workplaces, research on proactive behaviors relevant for successful aging at work and their antecedents is sorely needed. Fourth, I argue that although the (pro)active role of employees is increasingly important with age, differential preservation is not a necessary requirement for successful aging at work. By further clarifying and discussing the issues raised by Zacher, I hope to stimulate the debate on successful aging at work and the active role of aging employees themselves.