Development of an Active Aging Index for the Organizational Level: The Silver Work Index

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While the newly developed Active Aging Index (AAI) monitors active ageing outcomes at international, national, and subnational levels to indicate the untapped potential of older people for more active participation, it also spans a field for indices that focus on organizational level. Such indices may define good organizational practice as prerequisites to tap the potential of older people within organizations by offering appropriate conditions. Our approach therefore is aimed to complement AAI with an organizational index for work in retirement age (Silver Work Index, SWI). It allows for a comparison between organizations and promotes a more active role of older people aged 60 or older in organizations. In the development phase, we conducted 27 semi-structured interviews with subject matter experts, such as researchers from different disciplines (demography, economics, gerontology, HR-management, psychology), older workers, consultants, human resources managers as well as representatives from strategic and operative management from different industries. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Categories and indicators were specified, inter-rater reliabilities determined. Eight dimensions of good organizational practices were derived: Organizational culture, leadership, work design, health management, individual development, knowledge management, transition to the retirement phase, and employment in retirement age. Results show that some dimensions, such as transition to retirement, are age-specific and distinguish the Silver Work Index from other indices. They can contribute to reflect and improve practices for older employees in organizations. Overall, the SWI complements the AAI by adding a focus on good organizational practice and thus supporting the participation of older employees.
Original languageEnglish
JournalThe Gerontologist
Volume55
Issue numberSuppl. 2
Pages (from-to)394
Number of pages1
ISSN0016-9013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11.2015
EventThe Gerontological Society of America's Annual Scientific Meeting - GSA 2015: Aging as a Lifelong Process - Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Orlando, United States
Duration: 18.11.201522.11.2015
Conference number: 68
https://www.tsnn.com/events/gerontological-society-america-gsas-annual-scientific-meeting

Bibliographical note

© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved.

DOI