Respect for older workers doesn't cost a thing

Kiwis are superior to Aussies in terms of keeping older employees in the workforce, according to an Edith Cowan University (ECU) workplace expert. Indeed, research by the OECD found 78.8% of New Zealand workers aged 55 to 64 are employed while in Australia it’s just 64.%. ECU’s School of Business and Law Professor Stephen Teo said one of the big reasons behind that difference is Australians don’t place the same value on diversity as New Zealand. However, Professor Teo added that culturally older people in Australian workplaces seem to stand out more than they do in New Zealand and are treated differently by colleagues and management. “Organizations must do more to support, engage and retain older workers as our populations’ age – both here and in New Zealand,” he said. Workers aged 55 and over were more likely to stay in their job if they felt they were being supported by their workplace, were engaged with their work and did not face discrimination, according to the new research paper co-authored by Professor Teo.