Older Workers. Myths and Realities.

Autor/in	Imel, Susan
Institution	ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, Columbus, OH.
Titel	Older Workers. Myths and Realities.
Quelle	(1996), (4 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Reihe	ERIC Publications
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Adult Education; Age Discrimination; Aging (Individuals); Educational Discrimination; Employer Attitudes; Employment Practices; Equal Opportunities (Jobs); Job Performance; Middle Aged Adults; Older Adults; Older Workers; Personnel Policy; Retraining + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Adult; Adults; Education; Adult basic education; Adult training; Erwachsenenbildung; Aging; Altern; Arbeitgeberinteresse; Berufspraxis; Equal opportunity; Equal opportunities; Job; Jobs; Chancengleichheit; Beruf; Work performance; Arbeitsleistung; Älterer Erwachsener; Älterer Arbeitnehmer; Personalpolitik; Umschulung
Abstract	An increasing proportion of the work force is aging at the same time that the workplace is changing in ways that are detrimental to older workers. Attitudes and beliefs about older workers appear to be ambivalent. Studies show that employers and managers stereotype older workers as loyal and possessing good work habits but inflexible and difficult to train. The relationship between age and job performance is complex and far from understood. Much research on aging and work performance has not included a detailed analysis of contextual factors--such as opportunities for retraining--that provide a link between individual changes and work performance. No basis exists for the stereotypes surrounding the ability of older adults to learn new skills. The more critical issue related to training for older workers is lack of access. Older workers do not fear change; they fear discrimination. Ageism, resulting in a grey ceiling that denies older workers equal opportunity and equitable treatment, appears to be a serious issue in the workplace. The most significant barriers and deterrents are managerial biases that older workers are too costly, too inflexible, and too difficult to train. Biases can be overcome through providing companies with more information about the relationship between older workers' assimilation of job-related training and their learning style and a better understanding of older adults' responses to new technology. (Contains 13 references.) (YLB)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2004/1/01