Employers’ Support of Older Adults Facing Ageism in the Workplace: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Abstract

Abstract As the Canadian population continues to age rapidly, addressing the social structures that negatively impact older adults is of increasing importance. The most prominent of these social structures is the workplace, which can be a potential source of age discrimination. The goal of this scoping review was to analyze the literature that addresses strategies for employers to support older workers experiencing ageism, in order to answer the research question: How can employers support older adults (50+) facing ageism in the workplace? Following Arksey and O’Malley’s five-step framework, an electronic database and grey literature search was conducted between September and December 2020. Thematic content analysis was performed to establish key themes. The search revealed 3,635 peer-reviewed and grey literature sources that were evaluated by three investigators. Thirty-six articles, published between 2006 and 2020, met inclusion criteria and examined various support strategies for employers. Five major emerging themes were identified from the literature: (1) Recruitment practices, (2) Training opportunities, (3) Education for managers, leaders, and employees in the workplace, (4) Flexible employment opportunities, and (5) Methods to change the psycho-social environment of the workplace. Implementation of these interventions is required to support older adults who may be experiencing workplace ageism. Longitudinal research of these interventions is required to determine the lasting effects of these strategies; however, the existing literature supports the implementation of these supportive actions, which is vital to ensuring that older adults are able to attain and maintain valuable work, in healthy environments, now and into the future.