COVID-19 and the ageing workforce: global perspectives on needs and solutions across 15 countries

International Journal for Equity in Health

Rae Dulmage¹  Britta Berge²  Qiang Hao³  Tae Hwa Han⁴  Malcolm Fisk⁵  Anne Burmeister⁶  Jennifer Schramm⁷  Jürgen Deller⁸  Kamolpun Punpuing⁹  Jason C. H. Yap^1,10  Peter Honeyman^1,11  Mofoluwaso Nwamara^1,12  Fashola Akintunde^1,13  Bamidele Aloko^1,13  Peter C. Huber^1,14  Thomas Linner^1,15  Stefan Lundberg^1,16  Hajime Yamada^1,17  Adriana Ciacâru^1,18  Sabrina Pit^1,19  Winona Freihaut^2,20 

[1] ;AARP Public Policy Institute, AARP Public Policy Institute;Beijing Century Myway Education Technology Inc.;College of Medicine, Health IT Center, Yonsei University Health System, Yonsei University;De Montfort University;Department of Organisation and Personnel Management, Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University Rotterdam;Financial Security, AARP Public Policy Institute, AARP Public Policy Institute;Institute of Management & Organization, Leuphana University;Research Strategic Planning and Management Division, National Science and Technology Development Agency;Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore;School of Public health, Hebrew University;Society for Human Resources (SHRM) Nigeria;Society for Human Resources (SHRM), Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria;Staff Unit Organization, Standardization, Research Communication, Austrian Association Supporting the Blind and Visually Impaired;Technical University Munich (TUM);The Swedish Consumers’ Association, SCA member of ANEC the European Consumer Voice in Standardisation;Tokyo University;Trade Union in the Field of Social Assistance & Child Protection, Federation COLUMNA;University Centre for Rural Health, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University;University of Melbourne;

关键词: Ageing;    COVID-19;    health equity;    employment;    planning;    workforce;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12939-021-01552-w

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background COVID-19 has a direct impact on the employment of older people. This adds to the challenge of ageism. The World Health Organization has started a worldwide campaign to combat ageism and has called for more research and evidence-based strategies that have the potential to be scaled up. This study specifically aims to identify solutions to combat the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the global ageing workforce. Methods We present 15 case studies from different countries and report on what those countries are doing or not doing to address the impact of COVID-19 on ageing workers. Results We provide examples of how COVID-19 influences older people’s ability to work and stay healthy, and offer case studies of what governments, organizations or individuals can do to help ensure older people can obtain, maintain and, potentially, expand their current work. Case studies come from Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Germany, Israel, Japan, Nigeria, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US). Across the countries, the impact of COVID-19 on older workers is shown as widening inequalities. A particular challenge has arisen because of a large proportion of older people, often with limited education and working in the informal sector within rural areas, e.g. in Nigeria, Thailand and China. Remedies to the particular disadvantage experienced by older workers in the context of COVID are presented. These range from funding support to encouraging business continuity, innovative product and service developments, community action, new business models and localized, national and international actions. The case studies can be seen as frequently fitting within strategies that have been proven to work in reducing ageism within the workplace. They include policy and laws that have increased benefits to workers during lockdowns (most countries); educational activities such as coaching seniorpreneurship (e,g, Australia); intergenerational contact interventions such as younger Thai people who moved back to rural areas and sharing their digital knowledge with older people and where older people reciprocate by teaching the younger people farming knowledge. Conclusion Global sharing of this knowledge among international, national and local governments and organizations, businesses, policy makers and health and human resources experts will further understanding of the issues that are faced by older workers. This will facilitate the replication or scalability of solutions as called for in the WHO call to combat ageism in 2021. We suggest that policy makers, business owners, researchers and international organisations build on the case studies by investing in evidence-based strategies to create inclusive workplaces. Such action will thus help to challenge ageism, reduce inequity, improve business continuity and add to the quality of life of older workers.

【 授权许可】

Unknown