TY - JOUR
T1 - How do employers think about older workers?
AU - Axelrad, Hila
AU - Kalev, Alexandra
AU - Lewin-Epstein, Noah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.
PY - 2022/5/30
Y1 - 2022/5/30
N2 - Purpose: Higher pensionable age in many countries that are part of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and a shrinking pension income force older people to postpone their retirement. Yet, age-based discrimination in employers' decisions is a significant barrier to their employment. Hence, this paper aims to explore employers' attitudes regarding the employment of workers aged 60–70, striving for a better understanding of age discrimination. Design/methodology/approach: The authors used a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 30 managers, experts and employees in retirement age in Israel. Findings: Findings reveal a spectrum of employers' attitudes toward the employment of older workers. The authors' analytical contribution is a conceptual typology based on employers' perceived ability to employ older workers and their stated attitudes toward the employment of older workers. Social implications: The insights that emerge from this research are fundamental for organizational actors' ability to expand the productive, unbiased employment of older workers. Originality/value: By understanding employers' preferences and perspectives and the implications on employers' ability and/or willingness to employ older workers, this research will help policymakers formulate and implement policy innovations that address these biases.
AB - Purpose: Higher pensionable age in many countries that are part of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and a shrinking pension income force older people to postpone their retirement. Yet, age-based discrimination in employers' decisions is a significant barrier to their employment. Hence, this paper aims to explore employers' attitudes regarding the employment of workers aged 60–70, striving for a better understanding of age discrimination. Design/methodology/approach: The authors used a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 30 managers, experts and employees in retirement age in Israel. Findings: Findings reveal a spectrum of employers' attitudes toward the employment of older workers. The authors' analytical contribution is a conceptual typology based on employers' perceived ability to employ older workers and their stated attitudes toward the employment of older workers. Social implications: The insights that emerge from this research are fundamental for organizational actors' ability to expand the productive, unbiased employment of older workers. Originality/value: By understanding employers' preferences and perspectives and the implications on employers' ability and/or willingness to employ older workers, this research will help policymakers formulate and implement policy innovations that address these biases.
KW - Age and ageism
KW - Discrimination of older workers
KW - Employer perspective
KW - Thematic analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85114858294&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/QROM-10-2019-1830
DO - 10.1108/QROM-10-2019-1830
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AN - SCOPUS:85114858294
SN - 1746-5648
VL - 17
SP - 201
EP - 220
JO - Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management
JF - Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management
IS - 2
ER -