Journal shines a spotlight on older people in the workplace

Age Cymru’s discussion journal EnvisAGE shines a spotlight on older people in the workplace with articles examining the key issues facing older workers and highlighting the approaches and support that can help.   

Swansea University’s Dr Martin Hyde presents an overview of employment trends and challenges for our ageing workforce. While Business in the Community’s (BITC) Jill Salter and Legal and General’s D’Yon Dowell provide an insight into the Age at Work programme, where Age Cymru and BITC are working with employers to help them create workplaces where older workers can thrive.  

Wales TUC’s Shavanah Taj focuses on older workers and the menopause at work, and Claire Morgan of Carers Wales explores the relationship between employment and caring, and the need to provide support for older carers who also work.  

PRIME Cymru’s Kayleigh Jones highlights the barriers that older people can face in the workplace and how her organisation is trying to break them down, while David Hagendyk of the Learning and Work Institute (Wales) provides an insight into lifelong learning and all age apprenticeships.  

Age Cymru’s chief executive, Victoria Lloyd says “With more older people working longer than ever before it is important that we acknowledge the challenges that can be faced by older workers.   

“Some people are working longer through choice while, for others, a combination of economic factors and policies such as State Pension age rising means that continuing to work into later years is becoming a financial necessity. And while many older people continue to enjoy fulfilling careers there are others who face discrimination and find they’re unable to continue in their job or find new employment. 

“We need to make the most of older people’s skills and contributions at a time when many sectors are experiencing skills-shortages. Workplace barriers can be devastating to older people in terms of their sense of self-worth and for their personal finances, it is therefore vital that we strive to make all workplaces age friendly.” 

You may download a copy of Envisage from the Age Cymru website: https://bit.ly/AC-Envisage15 

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