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Addressing the challenges of an ageing workforce: an intergenerational learning toolkit

Donald Ropes (Centre for Research in Intellectual Capital, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Haarlem, The Netherlands)

Development and Learning in Organizations

ISSN: 1477-7282

Article publication date: 1 June 2015

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to discuss some of the challenges organizations face in regards to an ageing workforce and to present the results of an European Union project called SILVER (see www.intergenerationallearning.eu) that developed a toolkit to help management in knowledge-intensive organizations deal with older personnel in a positive and effective manner by organizing intergenerational learning.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved interviews with 32 international human resource managers and a local survey of more than 1,100 mid and upper-level managers. Testing and evaluation of the toolkit was done in 43 organizations.

Findings

Older workers bring several challenges with them, namely, ensuring continuous learning, social issues and diversity. The toolkit helps to deal with these challenges in a flexible and constructive way.

Originality/value

This article gives insights into how older workers can positively contribute to learning in organizations.

Keywords

Citation

Ropes, D. (2015), "Addressing the challenges of an ageing workforce: an intergenerational learning toolkit", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 29 No. 4, pp. 14-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/DLO-10-2014-0078

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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