Page 104 - increasing-the-value-of-age-guidance-in-employers-age-management-strategies

Increasing the value of age: guidance in employers’ age management strategies

(d) there is a guideline/protocol available regarding the guidance (so that the
guidance provider has a basic framework to work with in providing the
guidance);
(e) the external guidance provider is involved at start-up and/or structurally
involved;
(f) internal guidance is provided on a structural or temporary basis;
(g) the internal guidance provider is internally or externally trained.

Table 11 shows how the case studies scored per indicator, with enterprises
size indicated.
Training the internal guidance provider can be an important quality indicator.
In Kronoberg (Sweden), all managers were given education and training in
providing guidance activities during the initial phase. Guidelines and an
implementation plan were also made available. The education courses and
seminars for managers were first delivered by a consultancy company and
focused primarily on age management in the broader sense. Specific guidance
activities were then be set out by the heads of division. The actual providers of
guidance to other employees were internal actors, primarily managers, who took
part in activities such as seminars focused on leadership and age awareness
(prejudices and workability among older workers). The seminars were led by
consultants specialised in age management.

Table 11. Presence of quality indicators in cases

Quality indicator SME large
External actor is (co)financing the development 3 4
External actor is involved in the development and 3 4
implementation
The basis for the approach is good practice or research 2 4
There is a guideline/protocol available 2 8
External guidance provider is:
 involved at start-up 4 3
 structurally involved 0 2
Internal guidance is provided:
 incidental 3 2
 structural 3 12
The internal guidance provider is trained:
 internal 1 4
 external 2 3
 not 3 7
Total of cases 6 14
Source: Authors, based on Cedefop (2015).

Having external funds available is an incentive to provide guidance. In some
cases the development of the age management strategy could start because of

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