Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T03:02:16.350Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Stereotyping Older Workers and Retirement: The Managers' Point of View*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Kène Henkens
Kène Henkens*
Affiliation:
Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), The Hague
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être addressées à : K. Henkens (NIDI), P.O. Box 11650, 2502 AR The Hague. (Henkens@nidi.nl)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study into stereotyping by managers of their older workers and the influence of these stereotypes on the inclination of managers to keep their older workers in employment. The data for the study were gathered among 796 managers. Through principal components analysis, 15 opinions about older workers were reduced to three dimensions of stereotypes. The first dimension deals with the productivity of older staff; the other two dimensions have to do with their reliability and their adaptability. These stereotypical ideas about older workers influence managers' attitudes toward the retirement of their employees. The analyses show that, besides organizational factors, psychological mechanisms also explain why people view older workers through stereotypes. Managers who are older and in more frequent contact with older employees tend to hold more positive views.

Résumé

Cet article présente les résultants d'une étude à propos des différents stéréotypes des gestionnaires envers leurs employés plus âgés et sur l'influence de ces stéréotypes dans la propension des gestionnaires à garder des employés âgés en service. Les données ont été recueillies auprès d'un échantillon de 796 gestionnaires. Àtravers des composantes d'analyse principales, 15 opinions sur les employés âgés ont été réduites à trois dimensions de stéréotypes. La première dimension concerne la productivité de personnel âgé, les autres dimensions concernent leur fiabilité et leur adaptabilité. Les idées stéréotypées sur les employés âgés ont une influence sur les attitudes des gestionnaires envers la retraite de leurs employés. Les analyses montrent que malgré les facteurs organisationnels, les mécanismes psychologiques expliquent également pourquoi les gens utilisent des stéréotypes sur les employés âgés. Les gestionnaires qui sont eux-mêmes plus âgés et qui maintiennent plus de contact avec des employés âgés, ont tendance à avoir des avis davantage positifs.

Keywords

agingstereotypesolder workersretirementthe Netherlandsaging workforcemanagersvieillissementstéréotypesemployés âgésretraitePays Basvieillissement de la main d'œuvre
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , Winter/Hiver 2005 , pp. 353 - 366
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

Leo van Wissen was extremely helpful with statistical advice. Comments by Harry van Dalen, Rob Ranzijn, and Petra Visser are gratefully acknowledged.

References

Ashmore, R.D., & DelBoca, F.K. (1981). Conceptual approaches to stereotypes and stereotyping. In Hamilton, D.L. (Eds.), Cognitive processes in stereotyping and intergroup behavior (pp. 1–35). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Barr, S.H., & Hitt, M.A. (1986). A comparison of selection decision models in manager versus student samples. Personnel Psychology, 39, 599–617.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bartel, A.P., & Sicherman, N. (1993). Technological change and retirement decisions of older workers. Journal of Labor Economics, 11, 162–183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Becker, G.S. (1975). Human capital: A theoretical and empirical analysis, with special reference to education (Studies in Human Behavior and Social Institutions No. 5). (2nd ed.). New York: National Bureau of Economic Research.Google Scholar
Berger, E.D., Marshall, V.W. & Ashbury, F.D. (2005). Organizational and personal characteristics influencing Canadian employers' attitudes toward older workers. North Bay, ON: Department of Sociology, Nipissing University.Google Scholar
Bird, C.P., & Fisher, T.D. (1986). Thirty years later: Attitudes toward the employment of older workers. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71, 515–517.Google Scholar
Blocklyn, P.L. (1987, August) The aging workforce. Personnel, 16–19.Google Scholar
Bodenhausen, G.V. (1988). Stereotype biases in social decision making and memory: Testing process models of stereotype use. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55(5), 726–737.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brewer, M.B., Dull, V., & Lui, L. (1981). Perceptions of the elderly: Stereotypes as prototypes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 41(4), 656–670.Google Scholar
Brewster, C., Hegewisch, A., Mayne, L., & Tregaskis, O. (1994). Methodology of the Price Waterhouse Cranfield Project. In Brewster, C. & Hegewisch, A. (Eds.), Policy and practice in European human resource management (pp. 230–245). London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Butler, R. (1969). Ageism: Another form of bigotry. The Gerontologist, 9, 243.Google Scholar
Chasteen, A.L., Schwarz, N., & Park, D.C. (2002). The activation of aging stereotypes in younger and older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 57B, P540–P547.Google Scholar
Chiu, W.C.K., Chan, A.W., Snape, E., & Redman, T. (2001). Age stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes towards older workers: An east-west comparison. Human Relations, 54(5), 629–661.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dunteman, G.H. (1989). Principal components analysis, series: Quantitative applications in the social sciences (Sage University Papers 69). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Ekamper, P. (1997). Future age-conscious manpower planning in the Netherlands: From early retirement to a new perspective on the elderly? International Journal of Manpower, 18, 232–247.Google Scholar
Eurostat (1990). Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (Rev. 1). Luxembourg: Author.Google Scholar
Finkelstein, L.M., Burke, M.J., & Raju, N.S. (1995). Age discrimination in simulated employment contexts: An integrative analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 80(6), 652–663.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finkelstein, L.M., & Burke, M.J. (1998). Age stereotyping at work: The role of rater and contextual factors on evaluations of job applicants. Journal of General Psychology, 125(4), 317–345.Google Scholar
Finkelstein, L.M., Higgins, K.D., & Clancy, M. (2000). Justifications for ratings of old and young job applicants: An exploratory content analysis. Experimental Aging Research, 26, 263–283.Google Scholar
Fiske, S.T., & Neuberg, S.L. (1990). A continuum model of impression formation from category-based to individuating processes: Influences of information and motivation on attention and interpretation. In Zanna, M.P. (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (pp. 1–74). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Gray, L., & McGregor, J. (2003). Human resource development and older workers: Stereotypes in New Zealand. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 41(3), 1–17.Google Scholar
Hamilton, D.L., & Trolier, T. (1986). Stereotypes and stereotyping. In Dovidio, J. and Gaertner, S. (Eds.), Prejudice, discrimination, and racism (pp. 127–163). New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Hassell, B., & Perrewe, P.L. (1995). An examination of beliefs about older workers: Do stereotypes still exist? Journal of Organizational Behaviour, 16, 457–468.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henkens, K. (1999). Retirement intentions and spousal support: A multi-actor approach. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 54B, S63–S73.Google Scholar
Henkens, K. (2000). Supervisors' attitudes about early retirement of subordinates. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 30(4), 833–852.Google Scholar
Henkens, K., & Kalmijn, M. (In press). Labor market exits of older men in the Netherlands: An analysis of survey data 1979–1999. In Blossfeld, H.P., Buchholz, S., & Hofäcker, D. (Eds.), Globalization, uncertainty and late careers in society. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Henkens, K., & Tazelaar, F. (1997). Explaining retirement decisions of civil servants in the Netherlands: Intentions, behaviour and the discrepancy between the two. Research on Aging, 19(2), 139–173.Google Scholar
Henkens, K., & van Solinge, H. (2003). Het eindspel: Werknemers, hun partners en leidinggevenden over uittreden. Assen, The Netherlands: van Gorcum/Stichting Management Studies.Google Scholar
Hewstone, M., and Brown, R.J. (1986). Contact is not enough: An intergroup perspective on the contact hypothesis. In Hewstone, M. & Brown, R. (Eds.), Contact and conflict in intergroup encounters (pp. 1–44). Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Hilton, J.L., & Von Hippel, W. (1996). Stereotypes. Annual Review of Psychology, 47, 237–271.Google Scholar
Hummert, M.L., Garstka, T.A., Shaner, J.L., & Strahm, S. (1994). Stereotypes of the elderly held by young, middle-aged, and elderly adults. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 49, P240–P249.Google Scholar
Hummert, M.L., Garstka, T.A., & Shaner, J.L. (1997). Stereotyping of older adults: The role of target facial cues and perceiver characteristics. Psychology and Aging, 12, 107–114.Google Scholar
Institute of Personnel Management (1993). Age and employment: Policies, attitudes and practice. London: Author.Google Scholar
Joulain, M., & Mullet, E. (2001). Estimating the “appropriate” age for retirement as a function of perceived occupational characteristics. Work and Stress, 15, 357–365.Google Scholar
Judd, C.M., & Park, B. (1993). Definition and assessment of accuracy in social stereotypes. Psychology Review, 100, 109–128.Google Scholar
Kalleberg, A.L., Knoke, D., Marsden, P., & Spaeth, J. (1996). Organizations in America: Analyzing their structures and human resource practices. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Kirchner, W.K., & Durnette, M.D. (1954). Attitudes toward older workers. Personnel Psychology, 7, 257–265.Google Scholar
Lalonde, R.N., & Gardner, R.C. (1989). An intergroup perspective on stereotype organization and processing. British Journal of Social Psychology, 28, 289–303.Google Scholar
Lee, J.A., & Clemons, T. (1985). Factors affecting employment decisions about older workers. Journal of Applied Psychology, 70(4), 785–788.Google Scholar
Linville, P.W., Fischer, G.W., & Salovey, P. (1989). Perceived distributions of the characteristics of in-group and out-group members: Empirical evidence and a computer simulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 165–188.Google Scholar
Loretto, W., Duncan, C., & White, P.J. (2000). Ageism and employment: Controversies, ambiguities and younger people's perceptions. Ageing and Society, 20, 279–302.Google Scholar
Lyon, P., & Pollard, D. (1997). Perceptions of the older employee: Is anything really changing? Personnel Review, 26(4), 245–257.Google Scholar
Macrae, C.N., & Bodenhausen, G.V. (2001). Social cognition: Categorical person perception. British Journal of Psychology, 92, 239–255.Google Scholar
Marshall, V. (1996). Issues of an aging workforce in a changing society: Cases and comparisons. Toronto: University of Toronto, Centre for Studies of Aging.Google Scholar
McCann, R., & Giles, H. (2003). Ageism in the workplace: A communication perspective. In Nelson, T.D. (Ed.), Ageism, stereotyping and prejudice against older persons (pp. 163–199). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.Google Scholar
McEvoy, G.M., & Cascio, W.F. (1989). Cumulative evidence of the relationship between employee age and job performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 74(1), 11–17.Google Scholar
McGregor, J., & Gray, L. (2002). Stereotypes and older workers: The New Zealand experience. Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 18, 163–177.Google Scholar
Oakes, P.J., Haslam, S.A., & Turner, J.C. (1994). Stereotyping and social reality. Cambridge, UK: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (1995). The Transition from work to retirement (Organisation for Economic Coorporation and Development, Social Policy Studies No. 16). Paris: Author.-Google Scholar
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2001). Ageing and income-financial resources and retirement in 9 OECD countries. Paris: Author.Google Scholar
Pendry, L.F., & Macrae, C.N. (1994). Stereotypes and mental life: The case of the motivated but thwarted tactician. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 30, 303–325.Google Scholar
Polachek, S.W., & Siebert, W.S. (1993). The economics of earnings. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Reday-Mulvey, G., & Velladics, K. 2005. Employment of older workers in the Netherlands: Recent reforms. European Papers on the New Welfare, 1, 100–115.Google Scholar
Remery, C., Henkens, K., Schippers, J.J., & Ekamper, P. (2003). Managing an aging workforce and a tight labor market: Views held by Dutch employers. Population Research and Policy Review, 22, 21–40.Google Scholar
Rosen, B., & Jerdee, T.H. (1976a). The nature of job-related age stereotypes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 61(2), 180–183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosen, B., & Jerdee, T.H. (1976b). The influence of age stereotypes on managerial decisions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 61(4), 428–432.Google Scholar
Rosen, B., Jerdee, T., & Lunn, R.O. (1981). Effects of performance appraisal format, age and performance level on retirement decisions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 66, 515–519.Google Scholar
Schmidt, K. (1999). Employing older workers (Report of a survey of Western Australian human resource professionals, Discussion Paper 3“00, University of Western Australia, Department of Organisational and Labour Studies). Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia.Google Scholar
Schmidt, D.F., & Boland, S.M. (1986). Structure of perceptions of older adults: Evidence for multiple stereotypes. Psychology and Aging, 1, 255–260.Google Scholar
Shephard, R.J. (1995). A personal perspective on aging and productivity, with particular reference to physically demanding work. Ergonomics, 38, 617–636.Google Scholar
Snyder, M., & Miene, P.K. (1994). Stereotyping of the elderly: A functional approach. British Journal of Social Psychology, 33, 63–82.Google Scholar
Sterns, H.L., & Kaplan, J. (2003). Self-management of career and retirement. In Adams, G.A. & Beehr, T.A. (Eds.), Retirement: Reasons, processes, and results (pp. 188–214). New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J.C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In Austin, W.G. & Worchel, S. (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 33–47). Monterey, CA: Brooks-Cole.Google Scholar
Taylor, P., & Walker, A. (1994). The ageing workforce: Employers' attitudes towards older people. Work, Employment and Society, 8(4), 569–591.Google Scholar
Taylor, P., & Walker, A. (1998). Employers and older workers: Attitudes and employment practices. Ageing and Society, 18(6), 641–658.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, P., & Urwin, P. (2001). Age and participation in vocational education and training. Work, Employment and Society, 15(4), 763–779.Google Scholar
Turner, J., & Watanabe, N. (1995). Private pension policies in industrialized countries: A comparative analysis. Kalamazoo, MI: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.Google Scholar
Underhill, S., & Marshall, V. (1997). Survey of Canadian employers: Final report. Toronto: Institute for Human Development, Life Course and Aging.Google Scholar
Van Dalen, H.P., & Henkens, K. (2002). Early retirement reform: Can it and will it work? Ageing and Society, 22(2), 209–231.Google Scholar
Van Dalen, H.P., & Henkens, K. (2005). The double standard in retirement and work: The case of the Netherlands. Geneva Papers of Risk and Insurance, Issues and Practice, 30, 693–710.Google Scholar
Verkuyten, M., & Nekuee, S. (1999). Ingroup-bias: The effect of self-stereotyping, identification and group threat. European Journal of Social Psychology, 29, 411–418.Google Scholar
Vrugt, A., & Schabracq, M. (1996). Stereotypes with respect to elderly employees. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 6(4), 287–292.Google Scholar
Wagner, D.L. (1998). Factors influencing the use of older workers: A survey of U.S. employers. Washington, DC: The National Council on the Aging.Google Scholar
Warr, P., & Pennington, J. (1993). Views about age discrimination and older workers. In Taylor, P., Walker, A., Casey, B., Metcalf, H., Lakey, J., Warr, P., & Pennington, J.. Age and employment: Policies, attitudes, and practice (pp. 75–106). London: Institute of Personnel Management.Google Scholar
Weber, R., & Crocker, J. (1983). Cognitive processes in the revision of stereotype beliefs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45(5), 961–977.CrossRefGoogle Scholar