Older Workers’ Job Satisfaction as a Factor in the Extension of Employment in Slovenia and the EU

Aleksander Aristovnik; Ksenja Jaklič

Aleksander Aristovnik
Ksenja Jaklič

Keywords: older workers, job satisfaction, employment rate, factors promoting work life, working conditions, Slovenia, EU

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to compare older workers’ job satisfaction in Slovenia to that in the EU in order to analyse its various dimensions as well as specifics regar- ding age, gender, sector of activity, and type of occupation; it also seeks to identify what determines older workers’ job satisfaction most. Using data from Eurofound’s Fifth European Working Conditions survey in 2010, the statistical analysis indica- tes that Slovenia, which had the lowest employment rate of older people in the EU in 2011, ranks 15th among member states and below the EU average. Slovenia’s older workers, like their European colleagues, are most satisfied with the recognition of job well done and least satisfied with the opportunities for promotion. Compared with other member states, Slovenia’s older workers are relatively dissatisfied with their working conditions, salary, and adequacy of motivation for committed work while being relatively satisfied with the recognition of job well done and colleagu- es. Older workers’ job satisfaction is mostly determined based on the adequacy of motivation for committed work.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Aleksander Aristovnik

Faculty of Administration, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
E-mail: aleksander.aristovnik@fu.uni-lj.si

Aleksander Aristovnik received his doctorate in 2006 from the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana. He works as an associate professor of international economics at the Faculty of Administration, University of Ljubljana, where he is a member of the Department of Economics and Public Sector Management. Key areas of his research are international economics and international finance, European integration processes, and public finance.

Ksenja Jaklič

Master student at the Faculty of Administration, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
E-mail: ksenja.jaklic@gmail.com

Ksenja Jaklič is a student in the master’s study program in administration at the Faculty of Administration, University of Ljubljana. In her master's thesis, she compares the inclusion of older people in the labour market in Slovenia with EU and notes the potential impact of older workers’ job satisfaction in prolonging the period of work activity in the empirical part. She is employed as the director of a company engaged in business consultancy.

References

ARMSTRONG-STASSEN, Marjorie, URSEL, Nancy D. (2009). Perceived organizational support, career satisfa- ction, and the retention of older workers. Journal of Oc- cupational and Organizational Psychology 82: 201–220. http://dx.doi.org/10.1348/096317908X288838

BEEHR, Terry, GLAZER, Sharon, NIELSON, Norma L., FARMER, Suzzane J. (2000). Work and non-work predictors of employees'retirement ages. Journal of Vocational Behavior 57 (2): 206–225. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.1999.1736

DAVIES, Eleanor, CARTWRIGHT, Susan (2011). Psycho- logical and psychosocial predictors of attitudes to working past normal retirement age. Employee Relations 33 (3): 249–268. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01425451111121768

ECKERT, David J., DeVINEY, Stanley (1993). Evidence for a pre-retirement process among older male workers. Journal of Gerontology: Social Science 48: 35–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronj/48.2.S35

European Commission (2006). Ageing and employment: Identification of good practice to increase job opportuni- ties and maintain older workers in employment. Final Report. Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Oportunities Unit D.2 with Warwick Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick, Munich. Brussels: European Commission.

European Commission (2010). Europe 2020 – A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Brussels: European Commission.

European Commission (2012). Active ageing. Special Eu- robarometer 378 / Wave EB 76.2 TNS Opinion & Social. Brussels: European Commision.

FRASER, Lyndal, McKENNA, Kryss, TURPIN, Merrill, ALLEN, Shelley, LIDDLE, Jacki (2009). Older Workers: An exploration of the benefits, barriers and adaptations for older people in the workforce. A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation 33 (3): 261–272.

GOULD, Raija, ILMARINEN, Juhani, JÄRVISALO, Jorma, KOSKINEN, Seppo (2008). Dimensions of Work Ability. Results of the Health 2000 Survey. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.

GREENE, William H. (2000). Econometric Analysis. New York, Prentice Hall.

GROOT, Wim, MAASSEN van den BRINK, Henriëtte (1999). Job satisfaction of older workers. Internatio- nal Journal of Manpower 20 (6): 343–360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01437729910289701

HENKENS, Kène, SCHIPPERS, Joop (2012). Active ageing in Europe: the role of organisations. Internatio- nal Journal of Manpower 33 (6): 604–611. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01437721211261840

HUMPHREY, Alan, COSTIGAN, Paddy, PICKERING, Kevin, STRATFORD, Nina, BARNES, Matt (2003). Factors affecting the labour market participation of older workers. A report of research carried out by the National Centre for Social Research, in conjunction with the Institute for Fiscal Studies on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions, Leeds.

IRVING, Pat, STEELS, Jennifer, HALL, Nicola (2005). Factors affecting the labour market participation of older workers: qualitative reearch. A report of research carried out by ECOTEC Research and Consulting Limited on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. Research Report No 281. Leeds: Crown.

JANSON, Philip, MARTIN, Jack K. (1982). Job Satisfa- ction and Age: A Test of Two Views. Social Forces 60 (4): 1089–1102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sf/60.4.1089

KLENKE – HAMEL, Karin E., MATHIEU, John E. (1990). Role Strains, Tension, and Job Satisfaction Influences on Employees' Propensity to Leave: A Multi-Sample Repliction and Extension. Human Relations 43 (8): 791–807. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/001872679004300806

MARSHALL, Victor W. (2001). Challenges facing Older Workers in Developed Nations. Paper, presented on the conference: »Into the Milennium of the Older Adult: Releasing Potentials and Erasing Prejudices«, 12.−14. January, Singapore. Singapore: The Gerontological Society of Singapure.

McGOLDRICK, A., COOPER, C. (1990). Why retire early?. Prevention in Human Services 8 (1): 219–237. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J293v08n01_14

MITCHELL, Olivia S., LEVINE, Phillip B., POZZEBON, Silvana (1990). Ageing, Job Satisfacton, and Job Preformance (CAHRS Working Paper #90-02). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies. Dosegljivo http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cahrswp/367/ (15. 12. 2012).

SALVAGE, Ann V., ZEILIG, Hannah, TINKER, Anthea, ASKHAM, Janet (2005). Facts and Misunderstan- dings about Pension and Retirement Ages. Institute of Gerontology, King's College London, London.

SCHRAMM, Jennifer (2006). SHRM Workplace Forecast. Society of Human Resource Management, Alexandria, VA.

SHACKLOCK, Kate, BRUNETTO, Yvonne (2011). A model of older workers' intentions to continue working. Personnel Review 40 (2): 252–274. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00483481111106110

VON BONSDORFF, Monika E. (2009). Intentions of Early Retirement and Continuing to Work Among Middle-aged and Older Employees. School of Business and Economics, Jyväskylä.

WRIGHT, James D., HAMILTON, Richard F. (1978). Work Satisfaction and Age: Some Evidence for the »Job Change« Hypothesis. Social Forces 56 (4): 1140–1158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sf/56.4.1140

ŽNIDARŠIČ, Jana (2008). Management starosti: organizacijski model aktivnega staranja. Doktorska disertacija. Ekonomska fakulteta v Ljubljani, Ljubljana.

ŽNIDARŠIČ, Jana, DIMOVSKI, Vlado (2010). Reluctance Towards Older Workers in Slovenia. Inter- national Business And Economics Research Jurnal 9 (2): 83–100.