How to commit aging workers: the role of HR bundles

Abstract

Since workforces are aging worldwide, scientists and practitioners aim at understanding the potential contribution of (bundles of) HR practices in increasing commitment among aging workers. In this time-lagged survey study, we distinguished four HR bundles for aging workers (Kooij et al., 2014a; Van Dalen et al., 2015): development, maintenance, utilization, and accommodative HR practices. We investigated the influence of the availability and use of these HR bundles on commitment over time and the role of age in this relationship. Based on two-wave complete panel data (N = 489) collected among employees in a Dutch university, we found that perceived availability of maintenance HR practices was positively associated with commitment over time. Further, based on the Selection, Optimization, and Compensation model (Baltes & Baltes, 1990), we expected and found that the relationship of the perceived availability and the perceived usage of utilization HR practices with commitment strengthens with age. These results highlight the importance of different bundles of HR practices for increasing commitment over time among aging workers.