Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T08:06:01.284Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Social Construction of Retirement and Evolving Policy Discourse of Working Longer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 November 2015

PHILIP TAYLOR  and
CATHERINE EARL
PHILIP TAYLOR
Affiliation:
Federation Business School, Federation University Australia, PO Box 3191, Gippsland Mail Centre, VIC 3841, Australia email: [email protected]
CATHERINE EARL
Affiliation:
Estonian Institute of Humanities, Tallinn University; Research Fellow, Federation Business School, Federation University Australia, PO Box 3191, Gippsland Mail Centre, VIC 3841, Australia email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article is concerned with the evolving social construction of older workers and retirement. Evolving and competing ‘world-views’ from public policy, and social advocacy of productive and vulnerable older workers, are described and critiqued. Contradictions and disjunctions, in terms of public policies aimed at changing employer behaviour towards older workers, are identified. It is argued that present representations of older workers have serious flaws that provide a weak basis for policy development and may not only undermine the prospects for overcoming prejudicial societal attitudes but may in fact strengthen them. It is further argued that sheltering older workers in employment placements will inevitably limit the extent and nature of their participation. Instead, the mainstreaming of their employment is justified, bearing in mind negative attitudes towards ageing.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 45 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 251 - 268
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adair, T., Temple, J., Lea Ortega, L. and Williams, R. (2013), Age Discrimination in the Labour Market: Experiences and Perceptions of Mature Age Australians. Melbourne: National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre.Google Scholar
Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians (2011), Realising the Economic Potential of Senior Australians. Commonwealth of Australia, http://epsa.treasury.gov.au/content/publications/grey_gold/downloads/grey_gold.pdf (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth). https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2015C00256/Html/Text#_Toc422226222 (accessed on 11 September 2015).Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013), Underemployed Workers, Australia, September 2013, cat. no. 6265.0. Canberra.Google Scholar
Australian Human Rights Commission (2012), Working Past our 60s: Reforming Laws and Policies for the Older Worker. Sydney: Australian Human Rights Commission.Google Scholar
Australian Human Rights Commission (2013), Fact or Fiction? Stereotypes of Older Australians: Research Report. Sydney: Australian Human Rights Commission.Google Scholar
Australian Human Rights Commission (2015a), National Prevalence Survey of Age Discrimination in the Workplace. Sydney: Australian Human Rights Commission.Google Scholar
Australian Human Rights Commission (2015b), Willing to Work: National Inquiry into Employment Discrimination Against Older Australians and Australians with Disability. Sydney: Australian Human Rights Commission.Google Scholar
Bass, S. A. and Caro, F. G. (2001), ‘Productive Aging. A Conceptual Framework’, in Morrow-Howell, N., Hinterlong, J., and Sherridan, M., Productive Aging. Concepts and Challenges. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, pp. 37–78.Google Scholar
Beck, U. (2000), The Brave New World of Work. Transl. Camiller, P.. Cambridge: Polity Press.Google Scholar
Bell, D. N. F. and Rutherford, A. C. (2013), ‘Older Workers and Working Time’, The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, 1: 2, 28–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bittman, M., Flick, M. and Rice, J. (2001), The Recruitment of Older Australian Workers: A survey of Employers in a High Growth Industry. Social Policy Research Centre Report 6/01, Sydney: University of New South Wales.Google Scholar
Brooke, E. (2003), ‘Human Resources Costs and Benefits of Maintaining a Mature-Age Workforce’, International Journal of Manpower, 24: 3, 260–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brooke, E. and Taylor, P. (2005), ‘Older Workers and Employment: Managing Age Relations’, Ageing and Society, 25: 3, 415–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calvo, E., Haverstick, K. and Sass, S. (2007), What Makes Retirees Happier: A Gradual or “Cold Turkey” Retirement? Centre for Retirement Research Working Paper 2007–18. Chestnut Hill, MA: Boston College.Google Scholar
Caro, F. G., Bass, S. A. and Chen, Y.-P. (1993), ‘Introduction: Achieving a Productive Aging Society’, in Bass, S. A., Caro, F. G., and Chen, Y.-P., Achieving a Productive Aging Society. Westport, Conn.: Auburn House, pp. 3–25.Google Scholar
Conen, W., Henkens, K. and Schippers, J. (2012), ‘Employers’ attitudes and actions towards the extension of working lives in Europe’, International Journal of Manpower, 33: 6, 648–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Conen, W., Henkens, K. and Schippers, J. (2014), ‘Ageing Organisations and the Extension of Working Lives: A Case Study Approach’, Journal of Social Policy, 43: 4, 773–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
COTA (2013), A New Deal for Older Australians. Adelaide: COTA Australia.Google Scholar
Delsen, L. and Reday-Mulvey, G. (1996), ‘Macro Issues and Policies’, in Delsen, L. and Reday-Mulvey, G., Gradual Retirement in the OECD Countries: Macro and Micro Issues and Policies. Aldershot: Dartmouth, pp. 3–12.Google Scholar
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (2013), Experience+, http://web.archive.org/web/20130722020131/http:/deewr.gov.au/experience (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Department of Employment (2014), Experience Pays: Why Mature Age Workers?, http://www.experiencepays.gov.au/why-mature-age-workers (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Flynn, M., Schröder, H., Higo, M. and Yamada, A. (2014), ‘Government as Institutional Entrepreneur: Extending Working Life in the UK and Japan’, Journal of Social Policy, 43: 3, 535–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Foster, L. and Walker, A. (2015), ‘Active and Successful Aging: A European Policy Perspective’, The Gerontologist, 55: 1, 83–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hartlapp, M. and Schmid, G. (2008), ‘Labour Market Policy for “Active Ageing” in Europe: Expanding the Options for Retirement Transitions’, Journal of Social Policy, 37: 3, 409–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hedge, J. W., Borman, W. C. and Lammlein, S. E. (2006), The Aging Workforce: Realities, Myths, and Implications for Organizations. Washington: American Psychological Association.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horin, A. (2011), Mature-Age Workers Feel Pressure of Dinosaur Tag, http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/matureage-workers-feel-pressure-of-dinosaur-tag-20111207-1oj5v.html (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Ilmarinen, J. (1995), ‘Aging and Work: The Role of Ergonomics for Maintaining Work Ability During Aging’, in Bittner, A.C. and Champney, P.C., Advances in Industrial Ergonomics and Safety VII. London and Bristol: Taylor and Francis, pp. 3–17.Google Scholar
Kohli, M. (1987), ‘Retirement and the Moral Economy: An Historical Interpretation of the German Case’, Journal of Aging Studies, 1: 2, 125–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kohli, M. and Rein, M. (1991), ‘The Changing Balance of Work and Retirement’, in Kohli, M., Rein, M., Guillemard, A.-M. and van Gunsteren, H., Time for Retirement. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 1–35.Google Scholar
Kreab and Gavin Anderson (2014), How Older Workers are Valued: Results on the National Survey on Attitudes to Older Workers, Financial Services Council, http://www.fsc.org.au/downloads/file/ResearchReportsFile/20140203_FSC_Older_Workers_Research_Report-FINAL1.pdf (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Loretto, W., Duncan, C. and White, P. J. (2000), ‘Ageism and Employment: Controversies, Ambiguities and Younger People's Perceptions’, Ageing and Society, 20: 3, 279–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Loretto, W. and Vickerstaff, S. (2015), ‘Gender, Age and Flexible Working in Later Life’, Work, Employment and Society, 29: 2, 233–249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyon, P., Hallier, J. and Glover, I. (1998), ‘Divestment or Investment? The Contradictions of HRM in Relation to Older Employees’, Human Resource Management Journal, 8: 1, 56–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Macnicol, J. (2008), ‘Older Men and Work in the Twenty-First Century: What Can the History of Retirement Tell Us?’, Journal of Social Policy, 37: 4, 579–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGovern, P., Smeaton, M. and Hill, S. (2004), ‘Bad Jobs in Britain’, Work and Occupations, 31: 2, 225–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moulaert, T. and Biggs, S. (2012), ‘International and European Policy on Work and Retirement: Reinventing Critical Perspectives on Active Ageing and Mature Subjectivity’, Human Relations, 66: 1, 23–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
OECD (1998), Maintaining Prosperity in an Ageing Society, Paris: OECD.Google Scholar
OECD (2006), Live Longer, Work Longer, Paris: OECD.Google Scholar
OECD (2012), Thematic Follow-up Review of Policies to Improve Labour Market Prospects for Older Workers: Australia (situation mid-2012), http://www.oecd.org/els/emp/Older%20Workers%20Australia-MOD.pdf (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Oxley, H. (2009), Policies for Healthy Ageing: An Overview. OECD Health Working Papers No. 42, Paris: OECD, http://www.oecd.org/officialdocuments/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/?doclanguage=en&cote=DELSA/HEA/WD/HWP%282009%291 (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Peiró, J. M., Tordera, N. and Potonick, K. (2012), ‘Retirement Practices in Different Countries’, in Wang, M., The Oxford Handbook of Retirement. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 510–40.Google Scholar
Phillipson, C. (2009), ‘Changing Life Course Transitions: Implications for Work and Lifelong Learning’, in Chiva, A. and Manthorpe, J., Older Workers in Europe. McGraw Hill: Open University Press, pp. 110–27.Google Scholar
Powell, J. L. and Hendricks, J. (2009), ‘The Sociological Construction of Ageing: Lessons for Theorizing’, International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 29: 1–2, 84–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quinlan, M. and Bohle, P. (2003), ‘Contingent Work and Occupational Safety’, in Barling, J. and Frone, M. R. (eds.), The Psychology of Workplace Safety. Washington DC: APA Books, pp. 81–106.Google Scholar
Quinlan, M., Mayhew, C. and Bohle, P. (2001), ‘The Global Expansion of Precarious employment, Work Disorganisation and Occupational Health: A Review of Recent Research’, International Journal of Health Services, 31: 2, 335–414.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ranzijn, R., Carson, E. and Winefield, A. (2004), ‘Barriers to Mature Aged Re-employment: Perceptions about Desirable Work-related Attributes Held by Job-seekers and Employers’, International Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 8: 7, 559–70.Google Scholar
Riach, K. and Loretto, W. (2009), ‘Identity Work and the ‘Unemployed’ Worker: Age, Disability and the Lived Experience of the Older Unemployed’, Work, Employment and Society, 23: 1, 102–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, I. (2006), ‘Taking Age Out of the Workplace: Putting Older Workers Back In?’, Work, Employment and Society, 20: 1, 67–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sahlgren, G. H. (2013), Work Longer, Live Healthier: The Relationship Between Economic Activity, Health and Government Policy. IEA Discussion Paper No. 46, May. London: Institute of Economic Affairs and Age Endeavour Fellowship.Google Scholar
Sennett, R. (2006), The Culture of the New Capitalism. New Haven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Steinberg, M., Donald, K. J., Najman, J. and Skerman, H. (1996), ‘Attitudes of Employees and Employers Towards Older Workers in a Climate of Anti-Discrimination’, Australian Journal on Ageing, 15: 4, 154–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strandh, M. (2000), ‘Different Exit Routes from Unemployment and their Impact on Mental Well-being: The Role of the Economic Situation and the Predictability of the Life Course’, Work, Employment and Society, 14: 3, 459–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shields, B. (2015), ‘Key Abbott Government Employment Scheme Struggles to Meet Target’, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/key-abbott-government-employment-scheme-struggles-to-meet-target-20150101-12gdb3.html (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Taylor, B. A. and Bengston, V. L. (2001), ‘Sociological Perspectives on Productive Ageing’, in Morrow-Howell, N., Hinterlong, J., and Sherridan, M., Productive Aging. Concepts and Challenges. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, pp. 120–144.Google Scholar
Taylor, P., McLoughlin, C., Di Biase, T., Brooke, E. and Steinberg, M. (2013), ‘Managing older workers during a period of tight labour supply’, Ageing and Society, 33(Special Issue 01), 16–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Temple, J. (2014), Past, Present and Future of Mature Age Labour Force Participation in Australia: How Do Regions Differ? Melbourne: National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre.Google Scholar
The Treasury (2010), Intergenerational Report 2010. Australia to 2050: Future Challenges, Commonwealth of Australia, http://archive.treasury.gov.au/igr/ (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
The Treasury (2012), Government Response to the Final Report of the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians, http://epsa.treasury.gov.au/content/publications/government_response/default.asp (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Trinder, C. (1990), Employment After 55. London: National Institute for Economic and Social Research.Google Scholar
van Dalen, H. P., Henkens, K. and Schippers, J. (2010), ‘Productivity of Older Workers: Perceptions of Employers and Employees’, Population and Development Review, 36: 2, 309–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Dalen, H. P., Henkens, K. and Wang, M. (2015), ‘Recharging or Retiring Older Workers? Uncovering the Age-Based Strategies of European Employers’, Gerontologist, 55: 5, 814–824.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vargas, O., Fric, K., Curtarelli, M., Feifs, T. and Weber, T. (2013), Role of Governments and Social Partners in Keeping Older Workers in the Labour Market. Dublin: Eurofound, http://eurofound.europa.eu/publications/report/2013/working-conditions-labour-market-social-policies/role-of-governments-and-social-partners-in-keeping-older-workers-in-the-labour-market (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Walker, A. (1985), ‘Early Retirement: Release or Refuge from the Labour Market’, The Quarterly Journal of Social Affairs, 1: 3, 211–29.Google Scholar
Walker, A. (2009), ‘Commentary: The Emergence and Application of Active Aging in Europe’, Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 21: 1, 75–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Warr, P. (1994), ‘Age and Job Performance’, in Snel, J. and Cremer, R., Work and Aging: A European Perspective. London and Bristol, PA: Taylor & Francis, pp. 309–322.Google Scholar
WHO (2002), Active Ageing: A Policy Framework, http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/active_ageing/en/ (accessed 15 September 2015).Google Scholar
Zhan, Y., Wang, M., Liu, S. and Shultz, K. S. (2009), ‘Bridge Employment and Retirees’ Health: A Longitudinal Investigation’, Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 14: 4, 374–389.CrossRefGoogle Scholar