Age + overtime = Lower productivity??? - the evidence
Take Home Messages:
Older workers should be able to work overtime without having any more adverse events than their younger colleagues.
Older people working in such conditions do not represent a threat to productivity losses.
Having older staff work overtime is not likely to increase indirect costs to business.
Why the research matters:
Older people are challenged by worsening physical health as they age. When it comes to paying for work disability, they are often assumed to incur greater indirect costs.
However increasing age is associated with improved mental health and well-being, and may give the ability to work ‘smarter not harder’. There is some suggestion that older employees are able to protect themselves by being self aware, acknowledging their limitations, and by avoiding risky practices.
Many organisations rely on employees working overtime. Little research has been conducted into the impact of age and overtime on disability outcomes.
What the research involved:
The article is based on research by a large automotive manufacturing company on its 10 000 employees. Researchers compared work hours with their database of short term disability and workers compensation.
The research did not include an analysis of shiftwork.
Summary of research findings:
Older workers:
- Report more previous injuries, poorer physical health and more limitations on work attendance;
- Take longer to recover when on disability pay;
- Are less likely to start on disability pay; and
- Reported better mental health outcomes and fewer musculoskeletal injuries.
Of overtime, researchers found:
- Older people working overtime do not represent a risk of productivity loss;
- It is likely that having older people working overtime will not increase indirect costs; and
- Previous health problems are more likely to cause adverse outcomes than overtime.
Recommendations:
More research is required to measure direct and indirect costs of overtime and ageing workers
Original Research
Age, Overtime, and Employee Health, Safety and Productivity Outcomes: A Case Study
Harris Allen et a.
JOEM. ï€ Volume 50, Number 8, August 2008