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What's new on mature workers?

News from the CEPAR Mature Workers in Organisations team
Age-inclusive HR practices
Latest research from around the world
Mature workers news roundup

News from our team

The impact of COVID-19 on organisations

COVID-19 is of course ‘the’ news story in 2020. Organisations have had to rapidly respond to continuously evolving conditions, including making decisions about staffing and work locations.

The CEPAR Mature Workers in Organisations team has commenced research with organisations to learn about what experiences with staffing and actions organisational leaders are taking during this unprecedented global pandemic. Results from this study will shed light on current work practices and will identify lessons learned and opportunities for employers and workers in the future.

We are currently conducting short interviews with organisational leaders – contact alison.williams@sydney.edu.au if you would like to take part in this study.

Benchmark survey in the field

The second round of the Mature Workers in Organisations Survey (MWOS) is currently in the field, with data collection commencing in June 2020. Mature workers around Australia are being asked about a wide-ranging number of issues that affect them, including COVID-19. The survey focuses on their perception of organisational practices that can support them, as well as their lived experiences. We are looking forward to reporting on the results later this year.

CEPAR collaboration with Chinese aged care group Lvkang

Work design changes for the workforce of a large aged care provider in China are in the pipeline as CEPAR continues its collaboration with Zhejiang Lvkang Medical Care Group (Lvkang), in Hangzhou, China.

Founded in 2006, Lvkang has positioned itself as an pioneer in Chinese senior care and has received numerous awards and distinctions for its care and business practices. Lvkang’s Chairman Zhuo Yongyue is committed to using rigorous research to guide workplace innovation. Findings from CEPAR’s recent employee survey are being used to shape interventions aimed at enhancing the work design of Lvkang’s ageing and age diverse workforce. CEPAR is excited to continue this valuable partnership and hope results from this project will be used to inform policy and practice in the high-growth, in-demand field of aged care.

Age-inclusive HR practices

CEPAR's recent Mature Workers in Organisations Survey (MWOS) measured working Australians' perceptions of their organisation’s HR practices such as skills monitoring and training; non-discriminatory recruitment practices; and availability of eldercare leave opportunities. We found that generally employees aged 55+ perceived their organisations’ policies to be less age inclusive than younger employees, with the exception of women aged 65+ (these women perceive HR policies as being more inclusive than their male colleagues). Professionals working in white collar industries are the most positive about their organisations’ HR practices, whereas blue collar professions, such as machinery operators, were less positive. Download the full report

Latest research from around the world

Understanding Ageism and COVID-19 (Infographic)

This infographic separates facts from the myths about ageism. Read more

COVID-19, older social workers and ageism

COVID-19 and the workplace | Productive Aging in the Social Work Profession: A Comparison of Licensed Workers 60 Years and Older with Their Younger Counterparts |

Contemporary Perspectives on Ageism | Read more

Two new papers on older women workers

Falling Between the Cracks: Discrimination Laws and Older Women | Issues Faced by Senior Women Physicians | Read more

Retirement and chronic ill health

Why do older workers with chronic health conditions prefer to retire early? Read more

Mature workers news roundup

Editor’s picks of the latest news from around the world on mature workers

Visit our website for links to these stories

Japan: 'Super-aged' society keeps unemployment rate low despite COVID-19 | Japan’s soldiers are greying. Time to draft robots (and more women)?

USA: Law barring disclosure of actors’ ages violates 1st Amendment | Data proves positive effects of ageing for women | Will older workers have to retire sooner because of pandemic? | Doctors are suing over age-based screening requirements | Long-term trends in employment by age group | Jobless older workers: It’s different this time | How the pandemic has created new demand for older workers | Will the current pandemic increase age

discrimination in the workplace? | Exploding the myths about aging

UK: Average healthy working life expectancy is six years below the state pension age | Ageing workforce will make reviving Britain’s economy tough | Social security claims by over 50s soar as state pension age rises | COVID-19 crisis may leave next generation of retirees poorer and sicker | New book: How should employers adapt to an older workforce?

Malaysia: Providing for an ageing population | Who cares for the care givers?

Europe: Telework social divide

Australia: Labour hire company discriminated against 70-year-old (case)

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