The Aging Worker in a Changing Environment: Organizational and Individual Issues

Abstract

The impact of an aging workforce raises the biggest issues facing employers today. Middle age and older workers will become increasingly prevalent in the work place. In this article using five approaches to defining older workers as an organizing framework we review a number of these employment issues. The approaches include chronological, functional, psychosocial, organizational and life-span. Physical and cognitive changes are addressed. Research supports the notion that older workers have the capacity to continue making contributions at work. A primary theme, regardless of the specific issue, is the predominant importance of individual differences. A lifespan approach accommodates individual differences in career patterns. The prevailing viewpoint is that adult and older adult workers need to be considered on an individual basis both in terms of career choices and planning as well as in terms of employment or promotional opportunities. Attention is given to the human resource policies that may impact older workers such as performance management, selection and training.