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Working and ageing - Cedefop - Europa

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CONCLUSIONS<br />

Ageing Europe at work – Guidance to support longer careers of <strong>ageing</strong> workers 287<br />

They are important for a holistic approach towards promoting longer careers<br />

which follow a different logic from current traditional career models.<br />

Guidance <strong>and</strong> counselling in Europe:<br />

a synthesis<br />

Successful approaches to guidance <strong>and</strong> counselling for <strong>ageing</strong> people are<br />

based on three principles: guidance <strong>and</strong> counselling should adopt a lifecycle<br />

approach; be comprehensive <strong>and</strong> responsive; be embraced by all<br />

stakeholders involved. These principles are discussed in more detail in the<br />

following subsections.<br />

Towards a lifecycle approach<br />

Guidance support is key to adapting employment opportunities to an ever<br />

more age-diverse workforce. Research indicates that efficient guidance <strong>and</strong><br />

counselling requires a lifecycle approach, which is proactive <strong>and</strong> tailored to<br />

different stages of work life. Successful guidance <strong>and</strong> counselling models also<br />

stimulate motivation <strong>and</strong> learning ability <strong>and</strong> make people recognise the added<br />

value <strong>and</strong> relevance of investing in their careers. Approaches that help people<br />

to overcome concerns or reservations towards guidance <strong>and</strong> counselling<br />

appear to work particularly well.<br />

Employers should take preventive action rather than only react to apparent<br />

age-related issues in the work place. Focus has to be on working life <strong>and</strong> on<br />

all age groups (not only older workers), <strong>and</strong> on flexible <strong>and</strong> age-friendly forms<br />

of work organisation that also allow older workers to integrate continuous<br />

learning into their careers.<br />

Successful guidance requires a holistic approach incorporating common<br />

principles for age management <strong>and</strong> appropriate employment, education/<br />

training, guidance <strong>and</strong> health policies <strong>and</strong> related services. Moreover, it should<br />

entail various career development <strong>and</strong> management strategies such as further<br />

training <strong>and</strong> learning on their own, changing to a different occupation/job within<br />

the organisation, or becoming mentors to their younger colleagues. All of these<br />

issues seem to be especially beneficial.<br />

Providing comprehensive <strong>and</strong> responsive guidance services<br />

Guidance service provision should be easily accessible, comprehensive <strong>and</strong><br />

systematic. Responsiveness to the needs of different groups of <strong>ageing</strong>

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