Extending Working Lives in the Further Education and Skills Sector

Title

Extending Working Lives in the Further Education and Skills Sector

Author(s)

LSIS

Organisation

LSIS

Date

August 2011

No. of pages

18

Key words

older learners; training; managing change; improving further education; flexible working; employers; employees

Description

This resource is intended to help FE and skills sector organisations to develop and implement effective age management strategies to prolong the working lives of older workers in an age-diverse workforce with no fixed retirement age.

Select quotations

“Case study evidence…suggests there is an increase in the number of older workers in support roles and on part-time arrangements requesting to carry on working.”

“Productivity is influenced by a number of factors including days lost to absence, this has been shown to be lower in older workers.”

“By taking opportunities to retain and develop older staff rather than re-recruit, employers can save on expensive recruitment as well as turnover costs.”

“When abilities match job requirements and when experience is taken into account, evidence from a range of studies suggests that there is little difference between the performance of older and younger workers.”

“Older workers often do take up training when it is made clear that it is relevant to them and when they are encouraged to do so.”

“Older, experienced workers can be better at dealing with workplace change as they can bring to bear previous experience of adapting to different work situations.”

“Older workers’ experience and knowledge bring with them associated benefits – an understanding of how things can be achieved most effectively and efficiently.”

“Flexible working can provide both employer and employee with the opportunity to balance work demands with the needs of the individual, in particular around work patterns that can support a phased approach to retirement. The government has recently announced its intention to extend the ‘right to request’ flexible working to all employees who have been with the employer for 26 weeks.”

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