Retirement age: Preferences of employees representing various age groups

Abstract

Prolonging professional activity constitutes one of the possible solutions for alleviating negative consequences of demographic changes/population ageing. Devising effective tools motivating employees to remain professionally active must take into account preferences associated with retirement age. The following constitute the objectives of the present paper: 1) identification of preferences in the retirement age for various age groups; 2) indication of potential consequences behind particular preferences; 3) formulation of guidelines for human resources management in organizations. In order to achieve these objectives, the results of the study encompassing 2076 respondents, specialists employed in various departments of Polish innovative companies, were analysed. On average, for each evaluated age group, the preferred retirement age was much lower than the statutory retirement age in Poland (65 years). In case of women in 45+ age groups, the average retirement age was observed to be higher than 60 years (the new statutory threshold).