Report: Managing an ageing workforce

how employers are adapting to an older labour market

11 October 2010

This document examines how line managers and HR managers are adapting to an ageing workforce, drawing on a survey of members of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). 

It explores: personal experiences of age in the workplace, looking at:

• discrimination
• perceptions of age
• attitudes to older workers and motivations for extending working life
• managers' perceptions of current recruitment practices in their organisations
• training and skills development
• flexible working practices
• redundancy and redeployment practices
• retirement policies

• organisational policies and preparedness for dealing with the challenges of an ageing workforce

The report finds that only 14 per cent of UK managers consider their organisation well-prepared to cope with an ageing workforce, despite the impending abolition of the Default Retirement Age and the fact that a third of UK workers will be aged over 50 by 2020.  It argues that HR professionals and managers do recognise the valuable contribution that older employees can make. and makes recommendations to help organisations maximise the contribution and retention of their older workers. 

http://www.managers.org.uk/sites/default/files/CMI_CIPD_Managing_an_Ageing_Workforce_Sept_2010.pdf