Barriers & facilitators to extended working life : a focus on a predominately female ageing workforce

Edge, CE; Coffey, M; Cook, PA; Weinberg, A

Abstract

Many countries are reforming their pension systems so people stay in work for longer
to improve the long-term sustainability of public finances to support an increasing older
population. This research aimed to explore the factors that enable or inhibit people to extend
working life (EWL) in a large UK based retail organisation. Semi-structured interviews were
carried out with a purposive sample (n=30): 15 employees aged ≥ 60 and 15 supervisors
supporting these employees. Older workers were predominately female, reflecting the gender
profile of the older workers in the organisation. Older workers and supervisors reported that
key facilitators to EWL were: good health, the perception that older workers are of value;
flexibility and choice; the need for an ongoing conversation across the life-course; the social
and community aspect of work as a facilitator to EWL; and, the financial necessity to EWL.
Perceived barriers to EWL included poor health, negative impacts of work on health, and a
lack of respect and support.

Citation

Edge, C., Coffey, M., Cook, P., & Weinberg, A. (2021). Barriers & facilitators to extended working life : a focus on a predominately female ageing workforce. Ageing and society, 41(12), 2867-2887. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X2000063X

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 29, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jun 8, 2020
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: May 7, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: May 7, 2020
• Journal: Ageing & Society
• Print ISSN: 0144-686X
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-1779
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
• Volume: 41
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 2867-2887
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X2000063X
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X2000063X
• Related Public URLs: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society