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Age Inclusive Workplaces

Age Scotland supports and enables employers to build age-inclusive workplaces.

Scotland's workplace demographics are changing. As more people work for longer it's vital that age inclusion becomes a priority for organisations.

Workplace demographics are changing.

A third of our workforce in Scotland is now over 50 and there are twice as many people aged 65 years and over in employment today compared to 10 years ago.  This number is set to rise as changes to retirement and state pensions make working beyond 65 more common. This means that for the first time in history, there are four generations working together.

Research shows that 83% of organisations say that a multigenerational workforce is key to business growth BUT 53% don't include age in their Diversity & Inclusion agenda and policy. 

The Scottish Government’s Fair Work Convention (2015) has a vision that by 2025, people in Scotland will have a world-leading working life where fair work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, businesses, organisations and society. 

The Scottish Government has also identified workers over 50 as being disadvantaged in the labour market. Ageism is a key factor in this.

Ageism is an issue in the workplace.

Ageism is any form of negative or positive discrimination, stereotype or bias relating to age.  Ageism functions at individual and organisational levels and remains a barrier to attaining and retaining work. 

With more generations working together than ever before, ageism is an issue that needs to be addressed.

 

Age-inclusion should be a priority for organisations. 

Age is a protected characteristic under the UK Equality Act, 2010.  However, to date, age has received less focus in comparison to other protected characteristics.

Organisations need to become more age-inclusive in order to ensure fair work and workplace equality.  It is recognised that greater age diversity at work provides organisations with productivity and equality opportunities to harness varied experience and skills from the whole of their workforce.

 

Our workshops

Age Inclusion

Our Age Inclusion workshops support organisations and their employees to understand ageism in the workplace and the steps they can take to be more age-inclusive.  Our Age Inclusion for People Managers workshop is available as an interactive and engaging virtual session. 

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Unconscious Bias

Our Unconscious Bias workshop is one of the first of its type that includes age-related biases alongside other protected characteristics.

Through the use of immersive digital media, this workshop allows us to focus on our own personal unconscious biases so that we can work towards creating safer, more inclusive workplace cultures.

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Dementia Awareness

As our workforce ages, more people will experience symptoms of dementia while in employment or work directly with others living with dementia. These CPD accredited workshops can be tailored to suit your organisation and the audience attending.  They will ensure your HR team, people managers and front line staff are better informed and prepared should dementia become a workplace issue.  We are currently offering these as as interactive and engaging virtual workshops. 

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Planning For Your Future

Our pre-retirement planning workshops are currently being delivered virtually whilst face-to-face workshops aren't possible.  Planning For Your Future sessions help employees over the age of 50 to plan for later life and future retirement.  With access to experts in money matters, tax, legal issues and health & wellbeing, this workshop is recommended by 98% of attendees.  

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Age Inclusive Matrix

Our AIM programme provides specialist HR support for an age-inclusive workplace.  Age Scotland has pooled it's knowledge with the expertise of HR professionals to help organisations identify ways in which they can become more age-inclusive.  The programme supports organisations to create workplaces where employees of all ages can deliver to their full potential. 

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Diversity Awards 2019 Finalists

We're proud to be finalists of the Diversity Awards 2019 for our work in helping organisations across Scotland to be age inclusive.

Sources: AARP (2020), Glassdoor (2019), UEBS (2018), Personnel Today (2016). 

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