Action to take
Although governments can and should support the development of multigenerational, inclusive workforces, employers are best positioned to lead the charge.
Success will benefit the economy, businesses and employee growth and satisfaction. To do so, it is essential that employers:
- Ensure individuals remain employable throughout their lives with continued education and training,
- Enforce policies that prevent age discrimination, and adopt age-inclusive policies, and
- Provide opportunities for workers to remain and grow on the job.
Project Objectives
The World Economic Forum, AARP, and partner organizations agree to share existing resources and, where knowledge gaps exist, collaborate on new research to help employers build, support and sustain multigenerational workforces.
Three dimensions have been identified by which to examine inclusive employment:
Create: How do corporate culture and climate affect the quality of employment for all generations? Be it through access to meaningful work, a culture of respect, inclusion, and equity, or employment security and predictability.
Invest: What are the standards, policies, and practices to support a well-functioning multigenerational workforce? Important areas include recruitment, assessment and retention practices, compensation and benefits, lifelong learning, health and wellness benefits, caregiving services, physicality of the workspace and options for phased retirement.
Prosper: How can employers and employees translate a more age-friendly environment into business and personal growth? Employers who can retain market-valued intellectual capital, raise the stability and engagement of highly skilled employees and deliver products and services designed by a representative workforce stand to benefit. Employees with access to resources revitalizing skills can lead to greater personal financial security and self-fulfillment.