Organizational Hindrances to the Retention of Older Healthcare Workers

The Swedish healthcare sector is currently experiencing recruitment difficulties combined with increasing demand for healthcare services. This study accordingly seeks knowledge of the obstacles to and opportunities for retaining older employees in the Swedish healthcare sector. Results of interview...

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Main Authors: Robin Jonsson, Agneta Lindegård, Lisa Björk, Kerstin Nilsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Aalborg University 2020-02-01
Series:Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/118679
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spelling doaj-d5f4f4466e2049e2b03dc4e11149badf2020-11-24T21:46:50ZengAalborg UniversityNordic Journal of Working Life Studies2245-01572020-02-0110110.18291/njwls.v10i1.118679Organizational Hindrances to the Retention of Older Healthcare WorkersRobin Jonsson0Agneta Lindegård1Lisa Björk2Kerstin Nilsson3University of GothenburgUniversity of GothenburgUniversity of GothenburgKristianstad University The Swedish healthcare sector is currently experiencing recruitment difficulties combined with increasing demand for healthcare services. This study accordingly seeks knowledge of the obstacles to and opportunities for retaining older employees in the Swedish healthcare sector. Results of interviews with line managers and human resource (HR) partners indicate that the informants have positive attitudes toward older healthcare workers in general, particularly acknowledging their contributions based on long experience and skill. However, line managers’ high workload, the absence of age-management strategies, and universal HR policies not conducive to older workers’ individual needs are considered obstacles to retention on an organizational level. To retain older healthcare workers and maintain their ability and motivation, the healthcare sector and especially HR strategies need to be more proactive in addressing these issues, and formalized policies are required in order to benefit from the potential labor reserve that older employees constitute. https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/118679Health, Working Environment & WellbeingGender, Ethnicity, Age and DiversityOrganization & Management
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Robin Jonsson
Agneta Lindegård
Lisa Björk
Kerstin Nilsson
spellingShingle Robin Jonsson
Agneta Lindegård
Lisa Björk
Kerstin Nilsson
Organizational Hindrances to the Retention of Older Healthcare Workers
Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
Health, Working Environment & Wellbeing
Gender, Ethnicity, Age and Diversity
Organization & Management
author_facet Robin Jonsson
Agneta Lindegård
Lisa Björk
Kerstin Nilsson
author_sort Robin Jonsson
title Organizational Hindrances to the Retention of Older Healthcare Workers
title_short Organizational Hindrances to the Retention of Older Healthcare Workers
title_full Organizational Hindrances to the Retention of Older Healthcare Workers
title_fullStr Organizational Hindrances to the Retention of Older Healthcare Workers
title_full_unstemmed Organizational Hindrances to the Retention of Older Healthcare Workers
title_sort organizational hindrances to the retention of older healthcare workers
publisher Aalborg University
series Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies
issn 2245-0157
publishDate 2020-02-01
description The Swedish healthcare sector is currently experiencing recruitment difficulties combined with increasing demand for healthcare services. This study accordingly seeks knowledge of the obstacles to and opportunities for retaining older employees in the Swedish healthcare sector. Results of interviews with line managers and human resource (HR) partners indicate that the informants have positive attitudes toward older healthcare workers in general, particularly acknowledging their contributions based on long experience and skill. However, line managers’ high workload, the absence of age-management strategies, and universal HR policies not conducive to older workers’ individual needs are considered obstacles to retention on an organizational level. To retain older healthcare workers and maintain their ability and motivation, the healthcare sector and especially HR strategies need to be more proactive in addressing these issues, and formalized policies are required in order to benefit from the potential labor reserve that older employees constitute.
topic Health, Working Environment & Wellbeing
Gender, Ethnicity, Age and Diversity
Organization & Management
url https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/118679
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