Employers’ Attitudes Toward Older Workers and Obstacles and Opportunities for the Older Unemployed to Reenter Working Life

The present study aimed at identifying the attitude-related barriers that older unemployed, jobseeking workers (50+) face when they endeavor to reenter the labor market and to investigate employers’ attitudes and perceptions of older workers. Two studies were conducted. In study 1, interviews were undertaken with 26 unemployed persons and 24 representatives of other stakeholders, including social partners and officials representing the Social Insurance Agency (FK) and the Public Employment Service (AF). In study 2, the attitudes among private sector employers were studied by carrying out a questionnaire survey (N = 147). The interview results showed that many unemployed job seekers had experienced negative age-related attitudes among employers. This observation was supported by other stakeholders. Perceived attitudes to older workers and lack of updated competence were considered crucial. The questionnaire study showed a mixed picture concerning employer attitudes. There was a statistical difference between older (>50 years) and younger employers; older employers believed that older women wanted competence development to a greater extent. There was also a significant difference between female and male employers’ opinions; female employers, in particular the older ones, assessed that older women wished competence development to a greater extent. These differences were not found with respect to views on older men. About half (52%) of the employers had the opinion that there was no difference between older and younger employees with respect to the ability to cope with changes or learning new things. However, younger female employers (but not older female employers) considered that older employees had greater difficulties with changes or learning new things. It is concluded that negative attitudes to older workers with respect to competence development tend to be most common among younger employers

Meaningfulness and Coherence? Experiences Among Young Soldiers in the Swedish Armed Forces

The twofold aim of the present study was to try to understand why young recruits to the Swedish Armed Forces chose a military career rather than a civilian one, and how their expectations were met when confronted with the realities of life as a soldier or marine. The study material consisted of 57 interviews with 37 young recruits; the interviews were carried out at units representing different branches of the Armed Forces. The interviews were semi-structured, transcribed, and categorized. It was found that the desire to remain employed as a soldier or marine in the Swedish Armed Forces is based on a set of individual and organizational factors: the selection process, the sense of meaningfulness and organizational coherence, the safety offered, and the salutogenic nature of military working life. The recruits are part of a system that offers good work conditions in return for taxing and stressful work assignments

Attitudes Among Male and Female University Professors, and other Categories of University Employees, to Working up to and Beyond Normal retirement age

A study was undertaken in order to identify variables predicting the willingness of male and female university professors, and other employment categories, to work up to and beyond normal retirement age (65 years). Employees were asked by means of a questionnaire about their willingness to continue working to age 67, or to age 70, if they were given the chance. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was carried out (N = 3,019; 59.8% women and 40.2% men). The interest to continue working into old age was significantly higher in men than in women (p<0.01). Among independent variables, age, position, and work satisfaction predicted women’s as well as men’s interest to work to age 67 and 70, whereas among women perceived health predicted the willingness to work to age 67. Professors and lecturers were the categories showing the highest interest to work to age 70, compared to administrative and technical personnel; men showed significantly higher interest than women among lecturers and administrative personnel. The study emphasizes the effects of position and gender on willingness to continue working into old age, but identifies in addition also work satisfaction and age as significant predictors

Attitudes Among Male and Female University Professors, and other Categories of University Employees, to Working up to and Beyond Normal retirement age

A study was undertaken in order to identify variables predicting the willingness of male and female university professors, and other employment categories, to work up to and beyond normal retirement age (65 years). Employees were asked by means of a questionnaire about their willingness to continue working to age 67, or to age 70, if they were given the chance. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was carried out (N = 3,019; 59.8% women and 40.2% men). The interest to continue working into old age was significantly higher in men than in women (p<0.01). Among independent variables, age, position, and work satisfaction predicted women’s as well as men’s interest to work to age 67 and 70, whereas among women perceived health predicted the willingness to work to age 67. Professors and lecturers were the categories showing the highest interest to work to age 70, compared to administrative and technical personnel; men showed significantly higher interest than women among lecturers and administrative personnel. The study emphasizes the effects of position and gender on willingness to continue working into old age, but identifies in addition also work satisfaction and age as significant predictors

Differences between occupations with respect to exit from working life

There is in large parts of the world a demographic crisis. Due to the increase in life length and the drop inbirth rates, prospects are that much fewer people of working age will be available in the future to supportthose in retirement.Also Sweden faces a demographic challenge, implying that it will be necessary to make the Swedeswork more years. There is an obvious potential in the age range 65-74 years, where the employment rate isa mere 15.3 percent, whereas it amounts to about 77 percent in the age range 55-64 years (StatisticsSweden 2013). The proposals under way focus on revising frameworks hampering working into old age, andcreation of economic incentives for everyone to do so. In this discussion, the role of poor working conditionsboosting premature retirement, is largely left aside. Nevertheless, it is well known that insufficient work abilityin relation to work demands is a strong predictor for early exit from working life (e.g, Ilmarinen 2011). So thequestion arises, which ones are the occupational groups that exit working life early, and are workingconditions likely to play a role

Effects of Ambulant Myofeedback Training and Ergonomic Counselling in Female Computer Workers with Work-Related Neck-Shoulder Complaints: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To investigate the effects of ambulant myofeedback training including ergonomic counselling (Mfb) and ergonomic counselling alone (EC), on work-related neck-shoulder pain and disability. Methods: Seventy-nine female computer workers reporting neck-shoulder complaints were randomly assigned to Mfb or EC and received four weeks of intervention. Pain intensity in neck, shoulders, and upper back, and pain disability, were measured at baseline, immediately after intervention, and at three and six months follow-up. Results: Pain intensity and disability had significantly decreased immediately after four weeks Mfb or EC, and the effects remained at follow up. No differences were observed between the Mfb and EC group for outcome and subjects in both intervention groups showed comparable chances for improvement in pain intensity and disability. Conclusions: Pain intensity and disability significantly reduced after both interventions and this effect remained at follow-up. No differences were observed between the two intervention groups