Extending working lives: age management in SMEs.

Structured Abstract:Purpose: This paper presents a study of age management in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK.Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative data collection and exploratory research with six SMEs comprising of:initial interviews with representatives from the SMEs; action research activities designed to raise awareness of agemanagement issues and age discrimination legislation; and follow up interviews to ascertain if awareness raisingactivities resulted in any changes, or planned changes, in policy, practice and attitudes towards older workers.Findings: Good practice in age management can be found in SMEs, but was not found to be part of a systematicstrategy. Negative practices and attitudes towards older workers are observed, with positive and negative agestereotypes coexisting. Negative stereotypes displayed can undermine the perceived economic value of older workers.There may be a gap between policy and practice, but awareness raising campaigns that reach employers caninfluence existing ways of working by showing the benefits of an age diverse workforce and helping reduce prejudicesagainst older workers.Research limitations/implications: The sample size is small and context specific. However, the study usefullyillustrates different approaches to age management policies and practices in SMEs, and the potential benefits of agemanagement awareness in influencing attitudes and practices towards older workers in SMEs.Originality/value: The experience of age management in SMEs is under researched and examples of good practicein age management are often drawn from large organisations. The paper highlights that SMEs often lack the resourcesto seek advice regarding age management; therefore, those responsible for age management awareness raisingactivities may need to approach businesses directly