Strong Labour Market Inequality of Opportunities at the Workplace for Supporting a Long and Healthy Work-Life: The SeniorWorkingLife Study

Most European countries are gradually increasing the state pension age, but this may run counter to the capabilities and wishes of older workers. The objective of this study is to identify opportunities in the workplace for supporting a prolonged working life in different groups in the labour market. A representative sample of 11,200 employed workers ≥ 50 years responded to 15 questions in random order about opportunities at their workplace for supporting a prolonged working life. Respondents were stratified based on the Danish version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). Using frequency and logistic regression procedures combined with model-assisted weights based on national registers, results showed that the most common opportunities at the workplace were possibilities for more vacation, reduction of working hours, flexible working hours, access to treatment, further education and physical exercise. However, ISCO groups 5–9 (mainly physical work and shorter education) had in general poorer access to these opportunities than ISCO groups 1–4 (mainly seated work and longer education). Women had poorer access than men, and workers with reduced work ability had poorer access than those with full work ability. Thus, in contrast with actual needs, opportunities at the workplace were lower in occupations characterized by physical work and shorter education, among women and among workers with reduced work ability. This inequality poses a threat to prolonging working life in vulnerable groups in the labour market.

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Retrospectively assessed physical work environment during working life and risk of sickness absence and labour market exit among older workers

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2016-104279 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 114-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Emil Sundstrup ◽

Åse Marie Hansen ◽

Erik Lykke Mortensen ◽

Otto Melchior Poulsen ◽

Thomas Clausen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Labour Market ◽

Work Environment ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Older Workers ◽

Disability Pension ◽

Working Life ◽

Physical Work ◽

Market Exit ◽

Physical Work Environment

ObjectiveTo determine the prospective association between retrospectively assessed physical work environment during working life and prospectively assessed sickness absence and labour market exit among older workers.MethodsUsing Cox regression analyses we estimated the 4-year to 6-year prospective risk of register-based long-term sickness absence (LTSA), disability pension, early retirement and unemployment from exposure to different physical work environmental factors during working life among 5076 older workers (age 49–63 at baseline) from the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank cohort.ResultsVery hard physical work throughout working life was a risk factor for LTSA (HR 1.66,95% CI 1.32 to 2.07), disability pension (HR 2.21,95% CI 1.04 to 4.72) and early retirement (HR 1.57,95% CI 1.13 to 2.17). Both short-term (<10 years) and long-term (≥20 years) exposures to lifting or carrying of heavy burdens predicted the risk of LTSA (HRs 1.49–1.56) and disability pension (HRs 2.26–3.29). In contrast, exposure to dust was associated with LTSA and disability pension only following 20 or more exposure years.ConclusionsRetrospectively assessed hard physical work during working life and exposure to several factors in the physical work environment, especially heavy lifting, were important for labour market exit and sickness absence. This study underscores the importance of reducing physical work exposures throughout the working life course for preventing sickness absence and premature exit from the labour market.

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Barriers and opportunities for prolonging working life across different occupational groups: the SeniorWorkingLife study

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz146 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 241-246 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Lars L Andersen ◽

Per H Jensen ◽

Emil Sundstrup

Keyword(s):

Labour Market ◽

Working Hours ◽

Random Order ◽

Working Life ◽

Physical Work ◽

Occupational Groups ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Flexible Working Hours ◽

Standard Classification ◽

Barriers And Opportunities

Abstract Background Increasing retirement age is a pivotal issue in labour market reforms. This study analyses factors conditioning retirement intentions. Methods In SeniorWorkingLife, 11 444 employed workers ≥50 years replied to questions in random order about expected reasons for leaving and potential reasons for staying longer at the labour market. Respondents were stratified based on the Danish version of International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). Representative estimates were produced using the SurveyFreq and SurveyLogistic procedures of SAS combined with model-assisted weights based on national registers. Results For ISCO groups 1–4 (seated work) main expected reasons for retiring were freedom to choose and desire for more leisure time, but many would consider staying longer if there were better possibilities for additional senior days, longer vacations and flexible working hours. For ISCO groups 5–9 (physical work), poor physical health and not being capable of doing the job were common expected reasons for retiring, but many would consider staying longer if the work were less physically demanding and there were more senior days. Possibility for pension was a general expected reason for retiring. Expected reasons differed to a less extent between genders than between ISCO groups, e.g. economic factors were more important for men and high work demands more important for women. Conclusion Different barriers and opportunities for prolonging working life exist across different occupational groups of the labour market—with most consistent differences between those with seated and physical work. Targeting these specifically seems opportune for policy makers and future interventions.

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Swedish Collective Agreements and Employers’ Willingness to Hire and Retain Older Workers in Employment

Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies ◽

10.19154/njwls.v6i2.4972 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 61 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carin Ulander-Wänman

Keyword(s):

Older Workers ◽

Total Population ◽

Working Hours ◽

Working Life ◽

Legal Regulation ◽

Retirement Age ◽

Elderly Persons ◽

Older Employees ◽

Collective Agreements ◽

The Eu

Demographic change is transforming the EU population structure for the coming decades. One challenge that society faces is to preserve social welfare when elderly persons comprise a larger proportion of the total population. Allowing people to work beyond the current retirement age may help slow the growth of the maintenance burden for welfare costs, and creating situations where larger numbers of older employees can work longer and complete more working hours can improve conditions for preserving and developing welfare. However, a prolonged working life presupposes several conditions; one of these is that legal regulation of the labor market must support employers’ willingness to hire and retain older workers in employment. This article explores employers’ attitudes toward regulations in Swedish collective agreements—regulations which are of particular importance if employers are to increase hiring and retention of older workers in employment.

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Important work demands for reducing sickness absence among workers with neck or upper back pain: a prospective cohort study

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12891-019-2909-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Stefan Oliv ◽

Ewa Gustafsson ◽

Adnan Noor Baloch ◽

Mats Hagberg ◽

Helena Sandén

Keyword(s):

Back Pain ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Work Ability ◽

Older Workers ◽

Age Groups ◽

Physical Work ◽

Work Demands ◽

Work Demand ◽

Physical Work Demands ◽

Work Ability Score

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate what exposure to work demands, physical and psychosocial, is associated with lower levels of sickness absence among workers with neck or upper back pain in different groups, by age, gender, duration of sickness absence and work ability score. Methods This study was a prospective study of 4567 workers with neck or upper back pain. Data on neck or upper back pain, work demand and work ability were obtained from the Swedish Work Environment survey over a 3–year period (2009–2013). Register data on sickness absence, 1 year after each survey was conducted, were obtained from the Swedish health insurance database. Analyses were performed to estimate the association between self-reported work demands and registered sick days > 14 days. The analyses were stratified for gender, age group and work ability score. Results Lower numbers of sick days were found for workers reporting low exposure to lifting ≥15 kg and twisted or forward-leaning work postures. Lower numbers of sick days were found for workers reporting high work control and seated work. The associations were generally stronger in the older age groups for the physical work demands. Conclusions The findings in this study suggest that certain physical work demands and having high control over one’s work can result in lower sickness absence, especially among middle-aged and older workers with neck or upper back pain.

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Do earnings really decline for older workers?

International Journal of Manpower ◽

10.1108/ijm-02-2016-0043 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 4-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kadija Charni ◽

Stephen Bazen

Keyword(s):

Panel Data ◽

Cross Section ◽

Older Workers ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Working Hours ◽

Working Life ◽

Job Tenure ◽

Content Type ◽

Section Data ◽

Cross Section Profile

Purpose Cross-section data suggest that the relationship between age and hourly earnings is an inverted U shape. Evidence from panel data does not necessarily confirm this finding suggesting that older workers may not experience a reduction in earnings at the end of their working life. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach In this paper the authors use panel data on males for Great Britain in order to examine why the two types of data provide conflicting conclusions. Concentrating on the over 50s, several hypotheses are examined: overlapping cohorts, job tenure, job-changing, labour supply behaviour, and selectivity bias. Findings Cohort and individual fixed effects partly explain the divergent conclusions. However, for fully, year-on-year employed individuals, there is no evidence of earnings decline at the end of working life. The authors find no role for selectivity due to retirement, although shorter working hours or partial retirement along with job-changing late in life does provide an explanation for why hourly earnings decline for certain older workers. Originality/value The authors find no evidence that the process of ageing itself leads to lower earnings as suggested by the cross-section profile.

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Factors associated to managers’ belief whether their employees cannot and do not want to work until an older age, and measure activities increasing their employees’ possibilities of working in an extended working life.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-22885/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kerstin Nilsson ◽

Emma Nilsson

Keyword(s):

Work Environment ◽

Working Hours ◽

Working Life ◽

Work Load ◽

Physical Work ◽

Baseline Survey ◽

Factors Associated ◽

The Social ◽

Physical Work Environment

Abstract Background: The demographic situation with an increasing number of elderly citizens will postpone the retirement age in most countries. However, retirement is a socially accepted way to withdraw from a demanding working life.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the main factors associated to managers’ beliefs their employees want to or can work until 65 years of age or beyond, and measures increasing participation in an extended working life.Methods: The baseline survey in a follow up study including 249 managers in the municipality sector in Sweden. By logistic regression we investigated the associations between two outcome measures: i) whether employees wanted to work, and ii) whether employees could work until 65 years of age or beyond, and statements within nine areas related to a sustainable working life as well as measure statements for an extend working life.Results : Of the mangers 79% stated their employees ‘can’ and 58% that their employees ‘want to’ work until 65 years of age or beyond. The employees’ health, physical work environment, skills and competence were statistically significant to the mangers’ belief that their employees could not work until 65 years of age or beyond. Lack of support in the social work environment and lack of possibilities to arrange relocations were the most important factors to managers’ beliefs whether employees would not want to work until age 65 or beyond.Conclusion: To offer the employee other tasks in the workplace if needed was a measure statistically significant associated to increase the managers’ belief whether their employees both could and wanted to go on and work until 65 years of age and beyond. Additionally, the managers’ belief measures to decreased physical and mental strains and rotation between different tasks to reduce work load and wear would increase whether their employees can work, and reduction of pace and working hours would increase whether employees want to work in an extended working life past 65 years of age. The managers’ perspective on how their employees ‘can’ and ‘want’ to work will hopefully contribute to the understanding of the extended working life process.

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GENDER AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF EXTENDING WORKING LIFE: CROSS-NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3022 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S819-S820

Author(s):

Aine Ni Leime ◽

Debra A Street

Keyword(s):

Older Workers ◽

Working Life ◽

Future Research ◽

Pension Policy ◽

Policy Debates ◽

Theoretical Perspectives ◽

Future Research Directions ◽

Gender And Health ◽

Pension Age ◽

State Pension

Abstract This symposium addresses the issue of extended working life policy by considering the influence of gender and health on the experiences of older workers. In response to population ageing, policies designed to extend working life have been introduced in many countries. These policies include raising state pension age and linking the amount of state pensions more closely to years spent in paid employment. Such policies tend to be undifferentiated by gender or health status – in most countries, state pension age has been raised to the same age for men and women. Yet, research evidence indicates that women in all countries are disadvantaged in relation to employment at older ages and pensions. There are also health inequalities for older workers, depending on their occupation and whether they are in precarious or secure employment. Extended working life is of pressing societal concern. This symposium brings together the work of a group of leading international scholars who have been researching and reflecting on its implications in a forthcoming book on the topic across 34 countries. The symposium begins with an overview and analysis of the empirical landscape of older employment and pension policy by Martina Rasticova and Jim Ogg; Paper 2 offers a discussion of the theoretical perspectives and policy debates across 34 countries by Clary Krekula; there will be an analysis of extended working life policy in Ireland by Aine Ni Leime and a final presentation synthesising policy recommendations and mapping future research directions in extended working life by Debra Street.

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The Netherworld between Work and Retirement

Social Policy and Society ◽

10.1017/s147474641600021x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 625-636 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michael McGann ◽

Helen Kimberley ◽

Dina Bowman ◽

Simon Biggs

Keyword(s):

Labour Market ◽

Older Workers ◽

Working Life ◽

Retirement Age ◽

Major Theme ◽

Narrative Interviews ◽

Social Gerontology ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Part Time

A major theme within social gerontology is how retirement ‘is being re-organised, if not undone’. Institutional supports for retirement are weakening, with pension ages rising in many countries. Increasing numbers of older workers are working past traditional retirement age on a part-time or self-employed basis, and a growing minority are joining the ranks of the long-term unemployed. Drawing upon narrative interviews with older Australians who are involuntarily non-employed or underemployed, this article explores how the ‘unravelling’ of retirement is experienced by a group of older workers on the periphery of the labour market. While policy makers hope that higher pension ages will lead to a longer period of working life, the risk is that older workers, especially those experiencing chronic insecurity in the labour market, will be caught in a netherworld between work and retirement.

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How Different is the Older Labour Market? Attitudes to Work and Retirement among Older People in Britain

Social Policy and Society ◽

10.1017/s1474746406003198 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 485-494 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Stephen McNair

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Labour Market ◽

Older Workers ◽

Working Life ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Limited Evidence ◽

National Surveys ◽

The Uk

Governments are seeking strategies to extend working life, but with limited evidence on the attitudes to work, and motivation of workers over 50. This paper reports the findings of two national surveys which aimed to increase understanding of the attitudes to work of older people in the UK. They found that older people generally view work very positively, but that the forces which divide the labour market as a whole have an increasingly polarising effect as people grow older. The paper suggests that successful implementation of ‘extending working life’ policies will depend on a better understanding of the quality of work, of the diversity of older workers, and of the role of training.

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