Extending working lives

Abstract

This chapter confirms that extending working lives of older workers on a voluntary basis and ‘in dignity’ can be successfully reached through socially innovative, effective, sustainable, and transferable private and public measures. National policies can only give incentives, the employer level is crucial for enabling strategies. Financial incentives alone are of minor influence and might promote social inequalities. In companies, practical support from national policies as well as from social partners and stakeholders is essential, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as particularly needy. The same is true for companies in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The concepts of workability and employability are the best points of departure for measures, but need to be ‘modernized’ according to new challenges. Work-life balance and life-course strategies are essential. Lifelong learning promotes the likelihood of maintaining work.