healthy and active ageing - EuroHealthNet's Healthy Ageing Website

countries about the appropriate time of retirement on two questions relevant to retirement timing. 27 The
survey data reflect the opinion that men are generally too old to work more than 20 hours after the age of
63.6, while women should not work more than 20 hours after age 59.3. Amongst the study’s key findings
were that country-specific, tailor made policies aimed at stimulating part-time employment of older adults
may be quite effective in raising the labour force participation of older adults, since stimulating part-time
employment after reaching mandatory retirement age may be more effective than measures to postpone
retirement.
However, policy targets formulated by governments should also take into account societal perceptions of
older people. A national Dutch study, which asked both employers and employees for their views by means
of surveys and focus groups, found that 76% of employers thought that an increase in the average age of
the workforce is strongly associated with rising labour costs, yet only 7% expected a rise in productivity 28 .
The SHARE study therefore also concluded that public opinion attempts to persuade people to retire at later
ages should be targeted to all age categories.
There are a wide range of initiatives that have and are being implemented in EU Member States and/or co
funded by the EU that aim to encourage organisations to improve working conditions, help older employees
address specific health related issues and thereby stay in employment longer.
Box 13
Key resources
Multilinks - How demographic changes shape intergenerational
solidarity, well-being, and social integration
This research project (2008-2011) investigates how changing social contexts, from macro-societal to microinterpersonal,
affect social integration, well-being and intergenerational solidarity across different European
nations. It looks at how demographic ageing affects all age groups and the links between older and younger
family members, between different points in time and between the different national and regional contexts.
In particular it looks at the burden of care, elderly care as an issue of family policy, intergenerational
solidarity in modern families, the impact of intergenerational transfers on labour market participation and
gender issues in these contexts. It aims to provide a better basis for sound policy-making in promoting
intergenerational solidarity and avoiding risks for social exclusion or all groups.
More information is available at:
www.multilinks-project.eu
Ageing and Employment: Identification of Good Practice to Increase
Job Opportunities and Maintain Older Workers in Employment.
The 2006 study was conducted on behalf of the DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities,
and is founded on 41 case studies from 11 European countries. The case studies give insight into how
employment rates can be raised and retirement age extended without impairing life quality and compromising
work/life balance or cost-efficiency aspects. The study also explores national frameworks, which either
incentivise or limit successful actions on optimising the area of employment.
More information is available at:
http://www.economix.org/Ageing06-En.htm
27 Multilinks survey: How demographic changes shape intergenerational solidarity, well-being,
and social integration: A multilinks framework (European Policy Brief)
28 How do employers cope with an ageing workforce? Views from employers and employees (van Dalen HP, Henkens
K, Schippers J, Demographic Research, June 2010, volume 22, article 32, pages 1015-1036)
24