With superannuation falling by up to 15% in the past year, many would be retirees are being advised to weather the storm and delay retiring for a year or two. This highlights the already pressing need for employers to implement work health strategies for looking after their ageing workforce.
A study, published in a recent issue of The Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), estimated that over 660,000 older Australian workers were missing from the labour force because of ill health in 2003. Around half of the missing workers reported back injuries, arthritis and mental health disorders as the reason.
“A physically demanding, stressful working environment without a supportive organisational culture can accelerate the ageing process and a decline in work capacity” says Return to Work Matters’ editor Dr Mary Wyatt. “Organisations that plan ahead by implementing strategies that follow employees throughout their working life will get the most value out of their workforce and reduce lost time due to illness and work injuries.”
Health and lifestyle promotion along with training and development at every age level will ensure workers are given the best opportunities to be ready for the transitional period before retirement. Adjustments to the organizational structure or physical working environment can then be implemented as necessary.
Other strategies include flexible working options such as reduced hours or job sharing with a gradual phase to retirement. Employers should also be promoting mentorship and knowledge sharing between older employees with years of experience and younger employees with knowledge of new technology.
”Return to Work Matters,” www.rtwmatters.org an online resource and network for employers concerned with improving workplace culture and employee health, believes that the key to tackling this problem is greater support for employers to facilitate a healthy working environment.
“The Return to Work Matters website was developed to provide this much needed support and information to employers,” said Dr Wyatt. “The site includes access to advice, research, discussion, case studies, tools and links to resources that influence compensation, absenteeism and workplace culture”.
Return to Work Matters provides an interactive community of support, guided by people who have for decades taken leadership roles in occupational medicine, return to work facilitation, policy development and professional network support.
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For further information or comment, please contact:
Cheryl Griffiths
General Manager
Return To Work Matters - www.rtwmatters.org
Ph: 03 9866 6376
cherylgriffiths@
