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

7.5. Conclusions

Age management strategies have a positive effect on the individual: job
satisfaction increases, people stay in their jobs longer and their self-confidence
grows. At organisation level, there is an important link between the goals behind
the approaches used and guidance activities. Though organisations focus on
specific targets, there are unforeseen (positive) effects. Companies see their
innovative capability increasing, possibly from better cooperation between
generations in the workplace, which leads to the development of new (innovative)
insights and products. The total effects at individual and organisation level are
seen nationally, which can include a reduction in the costs of unemployment.
Cooperation between organisations and schools/universities positively affects the
overall match between the skills that are taught at schools and universities and
those required on the labour market.
The following key elements are needed for these positive effects:
(a) time and money must be available for development and implementation;
(b) the activities must be entrenched and anchored in existing policy;
(c) mutual trust is important;
(d) (external) expertise is important for development and implementation;
(e) the activities must fit in the organisation.

The policy priorities laid down by the European Council (Council of the
European Union, 2008b) for national guidance systems are being developed, but
not to the full extent stated in the goals themselves. The main focus of the
guidance is on job-oriented skills, and less on the development of CMS, though
career guidance is still available in limited form for older workers. Guidance is
made more accessible in the workplace by age management policies. Quality of
guidance is not high on the agenda of the companies, and thus not evident in
provision at this level. However, some strategies are based on scientific research
and/or known good practices in general. Cooperation between different
stakeholders is minimal and the main focus is internal.

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