Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-7qhmt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T06:24:51.523Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Extending Working Lives? Employability, Work Ability and Better Quality Working Lives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2011

Tony Maltby*
Affiliation:
Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield and Centre for Labour Market Studies, University of Leicester Email: t.maltby@shef.ac.uk

Abstract

Faced with a changing economic and demographic outlook, this article will suggest the adoption of a proactive and preventative approach to the quality of work and ‘worklife’ for the UK's ‘older workers’. Ultimately, it seeks to explore the possibilities for the implementation of the Finnish concept of Work Ability (Illmarinen, 2005) in the context of the UK policy agenda. It will be suggest that this approach provides a policy framework that addresses recessionary pressures whilst maximising quality of life and the active ageing of individuals.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

AGE (2009), How Can the European Union Lessen the Impact of the Recession on Older Workers: An Assessment and Recommendations from AGE, Brussels: AGE – The European Older People's Platform.Google Scholar
Black, C. (2008), Working for a Healthier Tomorrow: Report of the Review into the Health of Britain's Working Age Population, London: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Burroni, L. and Keune, M. (2011), ‘Flexicurity: a conceptual critique’, European Journal of Industrial Relations, 17, 1, 7591.Google Scholar
Department for Work and Pensions (2007), In Work, Better Off, London: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Dini, E. (2009), ‘Older workers in the UK: variations in economic activity status by socio-demographic characteristics, household and caring commitments’, Population Trends, 137, Autumn, 1124.Google Scholar
European Commission (EC) (1999), The European Employment Strategy: Investing in People; Investing in More and Better Jobs, Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.Google Scholar
European Commission (EC) (2006), Ageing and Employment: Identification of Good Practice to Increase Job Opportunities and Maintain Older Workers in Employment, Final report, Brussels: European Commission.Google Scholar
European Commission (EC) (2007), ‘Towards common principles of flexicurity’, European Commission: More and Better Jobs through Flexibility and Security, Luxembourg, Office for Official Publications of European Communities.Google Scholar
European Commission (EC) (2010a), Europe 2020: A Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, COM(2010) 2020, Brussels: European Commission.Google Scholar
European Commission (EC) (2010b), Towards Adequate, Sustainable and Safe European Pension Systems, COM(2010)365 final SEC(2010)830, Brussels: European Commission.Google Scholar
Griffiths, A. (2007), ‘Healthy work for older workers: work design and management factors’, in Loretto, W., Vickerstaff, S. and White, P., The Future for Older Workers: New Perspectives, Bristol: The Policy Press, 121–38.Google Scholar
Hill, D., Lucy, D., Tyers, C. and James, L. (2007), What Works at Work?, Leeds: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Hirsch, D. (2003), Crossroads after 50: Improving Choices in Work and Retirement, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
Hotopp, U. (2005), The Employment Rate of Older Workers, Office for National Statistics, London: Department of Trade and Industry.Google Scholar
House of Commons (2005), Welfare to Work: Tackling the Barriers to the Employment of People, Tenth Report of Session 2004–2005, London: House of Commons.Google Scholar
Illmarinen, J. (2005), Towards a Longer Worklife! Ageing and the Quality of Worklife in the European Union, Helsinki: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.Google Scholar
Ilamrinen, J. (2010), ‘30 years of Work Ability and 20 years of Age Management in Finland’, paper given to 4th Symposium on Work Ability, Tampere, Finland, June.Google Scholar
Ilmarinen, J. and Tuomi, K. (2004), ‘Past present and future of work ability’, People and Work Research Reports, 65, 125.Google Scholar
Jensen, P. H. (2005), ‘Reversing the trend from “early” to “late” exit: push, pull and jump revisited in a Danish context’, The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance, 30, 2, 656–73.Google Scholar
Learning and Skills Council (2004), National Employers Skills Survey: Key Findings, Coventry: Learning and Skills Council.Google Scholar
Lissenburgh, S. and Smeaton, D. (2003), Employment Transitions of Older Workers, Bristol: The Policy Press, for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
McNair, S. and Flynn, M. (2005), ‘Attitudes toward work and retirement: a survey of older people’, at www.niace.org.uk/crow [accessed 10.12.2010].Google Scholar
McNair, S. and Flynn, M. (2006), Older Workers in the South East, Guildford: CROW.Google Scholar
McNair, S., Flynn, M. and Dutton, N. (2007), Employer Responses to an Ageing Workforce: A Qualitative Study, Leeds: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
McQuaid, R. W. and Lindsay, C. (2005), ‘The concept of employability’, Urban Studies, 42, 2, 197219.Google Scholar
Office of National Statistics (ONS) (2009), Statistical Bulletin Older People's Day 2009, London: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
OPSI (2009), Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20061031.htm [accessed 21.11.2009].Google Scholar
Pfeffer, J. and Sutton, R. I. (2000), ‘The knowing–doing gap’, Public in the Age of Uncertainty, Cambridge: Polity Press, 2340.Google Scholar
Phillipson, C. and Smith, A. (2005), Extending Working Life: A Review of the Research Literature, Research report no. 299, London: Department of Work and Pensions.Google Scholar
Reday-Mulvey, G. (2005), Working Beyond 60: Key Policies and Practices in Europe, Basingstoke: Palgrave.Google Scholar
Schultz, K. S., Morton, K. R. and Weckerle, J. R. (1998), ‘The influence of push and pull factors on voluntary and involuntary early retirees retirement decision and adjustment’, Journal of Vocational Behaviour, 53, 1, 4557.Google Scholar
Smeaton, D., Vegeris, S. and Sahin-Dimen, M. (2009), Older Workers: Employment Preferences, Barriers and Solutions, Research report no. 43, London: Equality and Human Rights Commission.Google Scholar
Snartland, V. and Øverbye, E. (2003), Skal jeg bli eller skal jeg gå? Pensjonsforventninger hos lærere og ingeniører, Oslo: NOVA.Google Scholar
Taylor, P., Mclaughlin, C., Oakman, J., Palermo, J., Parker, T., Worringham, C. and Swan, P. (2010), ‘Workability measurement in Australia: A Work Ability Index databank’, paper given to 4th Symposium on Work Ability, Tampere, Finland.Google Scholar
Tuomi, K., Ilmarinen, J., Jahkola, A., Katajarinne, L. and Tulkki, A. (1998), Work Ability Index, Helsinki: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.Google Scholar
Vickerstaff, S., Loretto, W., Billings, J., Brown, P., Mitton, L., Parkin, T. and White, P. (2008), Encouraging Labour Market Activity among 60–64 Year Olds, Research report no. 531, London: Department for Work and Pensions.Google Scholar
Waddell, G. and Burton, A. K. (2006), Is Work Good for Your Health and Wellbeing?, London: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Walker, A. (2002), ‘A strategy for active ageing’, International Social Security Review, 55, 1, 121–39.Google Scholar