Active ageing policy in challenging production environments: a case study involving social partners in Spain
Metadatos
Afficher la notice complèteEditorial
Springer
Materia
Active ageing policy Older workers Social partners Spain
Date
2021-09-24Referencia bibliográfica
Sánchez, M., Díaz, P. Active ageing policy in challenging production environments: a case study involving social partners in Spain. Eur J Ageing (2021). [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-021-00650-6]
Patrocinador
Universidad de Granada/Consorcio de Bibliotecas Universitarias de Andalucia; European Union under the European Commission DG Social Affairs and Inclusion VP/2016/004; DEHUSO ("Inequality, Human Rights and Sustainability") Scientific Unit of Excellence - University of Granada's Research PlanRésumé
In recent years, due to population ageing, the European Union has promoted active ageing policies as a means to encourage
workers to delay labour market exit. Our paper explores what active ageing means to social partners (employers, managers
and workers) in Spain and also the viability of implementing an active ageing culture in organizations. We used a qualitative
case study methodology to identify perceptions regarding obstacles and facilitators in the adoption of an active ageing culture
in different production sectors, as well as responses to active ageing policies. Data-generating workshops were held with
employees and managers of four types of companies located in the south of the country. Perceived obstacles to active ageing
were more organizational than individual in nature. Some of these obstacles gave rise to a kind of forced active ageing in a
context in which the previous predominant message had been to retire as early as possible. Job adaptation was perceived as
both an obstacle and a facilitator. Increasing recognition of older workers and raising their motivation to extend their working
lives were found to be important pending tasks. In contexts of high unemployment, active ageing often remains largely
unknown within productive organizations, and the idea of retiring as soon as possible continues to guide many workers. In
these circumstances, the implementation of top-down, uniform active ageing policies has proven to be of limited efficacy.
Awareness campaigns and initiatives aimed at improving older workers’ health and abilities should be launched as complementary
active ageing strategies.