oa Werkgevers worstelen met Abraham (en Sara): 50-plussers nog weinig in tel

Samenvatting

Employers struggling with older workers

The ageing of the Dutch work force proceeds rapidly. An increasing share of Dutch employers now has to face the consequences of an ageing staff. Many employers are not very optimistic about these consequences: they foresee increasing costs if their personnel grows older, while these increasing costs are not offset by increasing benefits. Yet, personnel policies towards older workers can be characterised as ‘accommodating’: older workers are being spared (less overtime, no nightshifts) and are being granted additional facilities (more holidays, more relaxed working hours). Only few organisations invest in older workers’ human capital. So, personnel policies actually contribute to the imbalance between costs and benefits of an ageing work force. In addition, employers do not consider older workers a key factor to combat current and future labour market shortages.