Skip to main content
IOSH Magazine: Safety, Health and Wellbeing in the world of work - return to the homepage IOSH Magaazine logo
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit @ioshmagazine on Twitter
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on LinkedIn
How Jacobs keeps mental health in check
Th brilliance of resilience
January/February 2023 issue

Main navigation

  • Home
    • Browse previous issues
    • Member accolades
    • Member tributes
  • Health
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Sickness absence
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Rehabilitation
      • Personal injury
      • Return to work
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Achieving Fellowship
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Professional skills
      • Qualifications
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Jobs
  • Covid-19
  • Knowledge Bank
    • Back to basics
    • Book club
    • Infographics
    • Podcast
    • Reports
    • Webinars
    • Videos
  • Products & Services
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Sickness absence
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Leadership
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Qualifications
      • Professional skills
      • Achieving Fellowship
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Transport and logistics
  • Third sector
  • Retail
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Rail
  • Rehabilitation
    • Personal injury
    • Return to work
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing and engineering
  • Construction
  • Sector: IOSH Branch
    • Sector: Northern Ireland
    • Sector: Midland
    • Sector: Merseyside
    • Sector: Manchester and North West Districts
    • Sector: Ireland East
    • Sector: Ireland
    • Sector: Edinburgh
    • Sector: Desmond-South Munster
    • Sector: Qatar
    • Sector: Oman
    • Singapore
    • Sector: South Coast
    • Sector: South Wales
    • Sector: Thames Valley
    • Sector: Tyne and Wear
    • Sector: UAE
    • Sector: West of Scotland
    • Sector: Yorkshire
  • Healthcare
  • Sector: Fire
  • Sector: Financial/general services
  • Sector: Energy
  • Education
  • Sector: Communications and media
  • Chemicals
  • Sector: Central government
  • Catering and leisure
  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Sector: Local government
  • Sector: IOSH Group
    • Sector: Financial Services
    • Sector: Sports Grounds and Events
    • Rural industries
    • Sector: railway
    • Public Services
    • Sector: Offshore
    • Sector: Hazardous Industries
    • Sector: Food and Drink
    • Sector: Fire Risk Management
    • Education
    • Construction
    • Sector: Aviation and Aerospace
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Categories
  • Topics
  • Management
  • Leadership and management
  • Leadership
Older workers
Professional skills
Opinion

The benefits of managing older workers effectively

Open-access content Wednesday 25th July 2018
Authors
Judith McNulty-Green

The UK's default retirement age was removed in 2011. Yet, although age discrimination in employment has been banned in the UK since 2006 and all anti-discrimination laws were combined under the Equality Act 2010, an inquiry by parliament's Women and Equalities Committee has found widespread failings in enforcement.

It seems unconscious biases, "casual ageism" and inflexible recruitment and employment practices are limiting job options for older people, especially women over 40. Government, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, recruiters and employers are all criticised by the committee.

The report of the inquiry into older people and employment, published on 17 July (bit.ly/2uEuJIo), concludes: "Ageism [-¦] is affecting the ability of people to continue working into later life, despite longstanding laws against age discrimination." Britain "is wasting the talents of more than one million people aged over 50 who are out of work but would be willing to work if the right opportunity arose".

A previous Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) publication, Employing Older Workers: a guide to today's multi-generational workforce (bit.ly/2ms9BkY), highlighted that older workers form a valuable resource. Age diversity brings benefits to individuals, colleagues, workplaces and wider society, contributing broader skills and experience, opportunities for skills transfer and mentoring, lower turnover and improved morale.

OSH professionals have a vital role to play supporting the management of an older workforce

Employers surveyed by the DWP in 2015 reported workers over 50 are "experienced, reliable, punctual and good at mentoring new workers". To grow as the working-age population declines, businesses must retain their older staff. IOSH, too, believes good working conditions throughout our working lives benefit individuals' health, society and business.

An ageing workforce raises employment challenges and opportunities. "Older people are not a homogeneous group", the parliamentary report cautions, recognising the "varied needs and aspirations of the ageing population". IOSH has long called on employers to deliver proactive age management, including better-designed work and workplace adjustment, training, retraining and redeployment, flexible working and phased retirement.

Through our research and development and the expertise of our members in Britain and abroad, IOSH has contributed to improving safety and health for older workers. UK employers can access free advice, presentations, training materials and case studies about the support and flexibility older workers might need in our Occupational Health Toolkit (bit.ly/2zPihv6).

Societies worldwide gain a lot through managing older workers effectively. IOSH recognised this dimension as Healthy Workplaces for All Ages campaign partner with the European Union safety agency EU-OSHA in 2016.

OSH professionals have a vital role to play supporting the management of an older workforce through diversity-sensitive risk assessment and helping to banish unhelpful stereotypes. Effective OSH management can also help to ensure all workers fulfil their potential, enabling organisations to become more resilient and successful.

Topics
Leadership
Older workers
Professional skills
Opinion

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Health, Safety and Environmental Systems Administrator

Plymouth
£25000 - £30000 per annum + Excellent Benefits
Reference
5452813

Interim Health and Safety Manager

Norwich
Up to £375.00 per day
Reference
5452812

Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Advisor

City of Westminster
Up to £50000 per annum + Car & Excellent Benefits
Reference
5452811
See all jobs »

Today's top reads

Sign up for regular e-alerts

Receive the latest news and features, free to your inbox

Sign up

Subscribe to IOSH magazine

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
IOSH Covers
​
FOLLOW US
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel +44 (0)20 7880 6200
​

IOSH

About IOSH
Become a member
IOSH Events
MyIOSH

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to IOSH magazine
Write for IOSH magazine

IOSH Magazine

Health
Safety
Management
Skills
IOSH Jobs

© 2023 IOSH • IOSH is not responsible for the content of external sites

ioshmagazine.com and IOSH Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ