Employees 50+: How They Are Assessed and How They Assess Themselves

Abstract

In Poland, the older workers are valued for their knowledge and professional experience. Many of them, during transition period, actively participated in the creation of today’s businesses and now occupy exposed managerial positions, being aware of their own value. On the other hand, old age is one of the main reasons for the limited access to work. The seniors are assigned stereotypical characteristics, such as low levels of education, poor health, troubles with the adaptation to the new conditions, fatigue with work or fear of competition from younger workers (Jezowska, 2007). There are also frequent manifestations of ageism (Szukalski, 2011). An attempt at testing the validity of assessments and feedback on employees aged 50 years or more generated by themselves and their superiors and co-workers was made in the article. The results collected in eight thematic reports drawn up by the Polish research centres in the years 2005–2012 were analysed. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ss.85.3.8414