Research director at the center, Jacquelyn James, Ph.D. attends the V International Conference of Work and Family in Barcelona, July 1-3, 2013.
1 July 2013— The conference is organized by the International Center of Work and Family of IESE Business School and aims to focus on the management of work, family and personal life in the rapidly changing context of the twenty-first century.
Center's Co-Director of Research, Jackie James, gives a talk at Goddard House about research findings in the area of later life engagement.
26 June 2013—James highlighted the positive effects for older adults of staying involved with productive pursuits that give live meaning and fulfillment as we live and remain involved longer than ever in history.
Center's research economist, Kevin Cahill, presents at the Western Economics Association Meetings in Seattle, June 30th.
25 June 2013—Cahill will present the paper: Are Gender Differences Emerging in the Retirement Patterns of the Early Boomers? written by Kevin E. Cahill, Michael D. Giandrea (US Bureau of Labor Statistics), and Joseph F. Quinn (Department of Economics, Boston College).
Sloan Center hosts the meeting with several department leaders from Ministry of Manpower from Singapore
19 June 2013— Along with the Institute on Aging, co-hosted a visit from Silvia Martínez, ...
iPad technology for EngAGE Study, Center's Engaged as We Age project has been launched
12 June 2013—The goal of the study is to understand the experience of psychological engagement among a sample of relatively healthy adults aged 65 plus.
Center's senior research associate, Tina Matz-Costa, was recently accepted into the 2013-2014 Early Career Work and Family Scholars Program
10 June 2013—The scholars program provides supports for pre-tenure faculty members to advance their research, teaching, and long-term career prospects by offering networking opportunities and mentorship.
Center's research director, Jacquelyn James, has been awarded Fellow status by GSA
10 June 2013—GSA is the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging.
New Addition to the Innovative Practices Database
5 June 2013—The Sloan Center collaborates with business leaders to prepare case reports which are anchored in innovative practice.
Carl Van Horn' s New Book 'Working Scared (Or Not at All): The Lost Decade, Great Recession, and Restoring the Shattered American Dream' Released
3 June 2013— The book presents a compelling narrative of the transformations and economic crises that have been disrupting the American economy in recent years.
New Additions to the Innovative Practices Database
22 May 2013—The Sloan Center collaborates with business leaders to prepare case reports which are anchored in innovative practice.
Jackie Jame talks for ThirdPath calls about Reinventing Retirement
16 May 2013— The discussion focuses on how couples can work together as a team; both making changes at work and at home to make the most of this new chapter in their lives.
Stephen Sweet's New Book 'The Work-family Interface: An Introduction' Released
1 May 2013— The Work-Family Interface: An Introduction (Sage 2014) combines contemporary scholarship, personal stories, and insights from leading researchers to illuminate the multifaceted concerns that connect home to work.
The Sloan Center on Aging and Work, Resource for Geriatric Social Work
30 April 2013— The Sloan Center is one of the three aging research centers at BC are affiliated with the Institute on Aging.
Philip Moeller Named Sloan Research Fellow
29 April 2013—Moeller will concentrate on the role and development of workplace programs that support older employees in efforts geared to their retirement security, wellness, workplace engagement, later-life preparedness and success.
We are pleased to announce the 2013 sponsors of our Innovative Practices Database
24 April 2013—The Sloan Center collaborates with businesses to prepare cases which are anchored in innovative practice. The cases are available in an easy-to-use database.
Spring Webinar
22 April 2013—Time & Place Management: Secret Sauce or Spoiler? presented by Samantha Greenfield & Kim Lee DeAngelis on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 11:00 am
University designated a 'Changemaker Campus'
8 April 2013—Center's director, Dr. Pitt-Catsouphes helped coordinate BC’s participation in the Changemaker Campus selection process, applauded the designation.
Beyond the “busy ethic”: The meaning and measurement of engagement in later life
1 April 2013—Part of the Spring 2013 Gerontology Speaker Series, presented by Jacquelyn James
Time & Place Management: Secret Sauce or Spoiler?
27 March 2013—Time & Place Management Spring Webinar presented by Samantha Greenfield and Kim Lee DeAngelis
Is the Tide Turning Against Flexible Work?
18 March 2013—Written by Marice Pitt-Catsouphes and Stephen Sweet on Huffington Post
Kevin Cahill shares his thoughts on retirement with CNBC news
5 February 2013—Follow-up with the discussion on the Wall Street Journal: Americans Rip Up Retirement Plans.
Sloan Center's EAWA project advancing to new research to explore management of engagement in later life
1 February 2013—Dr. Larry Ludlow, Professor and Department Chair of the Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation Department of the Lynch School of Education at Boston College has been invited to make a presentation.
Quality of Engagement in Work, Volunteering, and Caregiving in Later Life and its Relationship to Well-Being
18 January 2013—Christina Matz-Costa, Center Senior Research Associate presents at the Society for Social Work Research conference in San Diego today.
Innovative Practices Database Newly Enhanced and Expanded
16 January 2013—The Sloan Center collaborates with business leaders to prepare case reports which are anchored in innovative practice.
The Job Demands-Control-Support Model: Understanding the Implications of Age
11 January 2013—Elyssa Besen, Center Research Assistant received her PhD in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology in December, 2012. Learn about her dissertation.
Holiday Greetings from The Sloan Center on Aging & Work
19 December 2012—Wishing you and your family the best this holiday season.
The National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition
7 December 2012—Samantha Greenfield gives the keynote address at the conference December 4 -7th, 2012.
Multiple Perspectives on the Meaning of Engagement in Later Life
16 November 2012—Jacquelyn James presents on Saturday, November 17 in San Diego at the Annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America
Employment Experiences of Older Workers in the Context of Shifts in the National Economy
14 November 2012—The existing literature on the determinants of employment experiences focuses on family, organization, and societal systems.... presents by Kevin E. Cahill, Center's Research Economist.
Relative Age bias in the Workplace
13 November 2012—The Gerontological Society of America's 65th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego, CA on November 14th, 2012
Older Workers, Adult Children and Working Longer by Kathleen E. Christensen
31 October 2012—The tenth annual National Work and Family Month comes at a time when issues of work-life balance are enjoying unprecedented attention.
New Engines for a New Economy Summit
15 October 2012—Dr. Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Director of the Sloan Center on Aging & Work has been invited to attend the New Engines for a New Economy Summit on October 19, 2012.
Age Diversity and Flexibility in the Workplace: Transformative Strategies for a Multigenerational Workforce
3 October 2012—Samantha Greenfield, Sloan Center's employer engagement specialist will be speaking at The Working Mother WorkLife Congress October 8-10, 2012 at the NY Marriott Marquis on Trends in Innovation
Aging Gracefully - interview series with CatholicTV.com
21 September 2012—Dr. Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Sloan Center’s director will participate in CatholicTV.com "Your Catholic Broadband Network" on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 10:30 am
2012 EANE Compensation & Benefits Conference
10 September 2012—Samantha Greenfield, Sloan Center's employer engagement specialist will be speaking on Workplace Age Diversity at the Employers Association of the NorthEast’s Compensation and Benefits Conference on September 12th.
Workplace Age Diversity: Bridging the Generational Gap
23 August 2012—Our own Samantha Greenfield speaks to the Experienced Professionals Group of Chicago’s Northern Trust about “Workplace Age Diversity: Bridging the Generational Gap”.
Op-ed: What Ichiro's departure says about loyalty and the employer-employee relationship
27 July 2012—Dr. Kevin Cahill, research economist at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work, recently wrote an Op-ed for The Seattle Times sharing his perspective as an economist ... more »
Sloan Center researchers receive the Larry R. Klein Award
29 June 2012—Sloan Center researchers, Kevin Cahill, Michael Giandrea and Joseph Quinn received the Larry R. Klein Award for the best article ... more ».
Gender differences in career centrality: Explaining variation in industry and national contexts
27 June 2012—Dr. Stephen Sweet, Sloan Research Fellow, will be presenting at the Gender, Work and Organization 7th international interdisciplinary conference, 27-29 June 2012, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK. ... More »
Christina Matz-Costa, PhD. was recently selected as a 2012 Hartford Faculty Scholar in Geriatric Social Work
25 June 2012—Christina Matz-Costa, PhD. was recently selected as a 2012 Hartford Faculty Scholar in Geriatric Social Work. Out of a large, nation-wide pool of qualified candidates, Dr. Matz-Costa is one of 8 scholars selected to receive $100,000 over the next two years to enhance their research, teaching, and leadership skills. More »
Let’s Talk about Work and Family, Huffington Post blog written by Kathleen E. Christensen, Program Director, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
25 June 2012—Posted June 25, 2012. One of the most popular articles on the Internet this week has been Anne-Marie Slaughter's provocative Atlantic essay, Why Women Still Can't Have It All. The article has … more »
Work After Retirement: Lessons for Employers and Policymakers from the United States
14 June 2012—Kevin E. Cahill, Sloan Research Economist, will be presenting at Eurofound’s “Income from Work after Retirement” expert workshop in Brussels, Belgium on Friday, June 15, 2012. Learn more »
Sloan Center researchers will be presenting at the Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) Inaugural Conference June 14-16 in New York City
14 June 2012—The conference features cutting-edge research and synthetic overviews of various topic areas. The program includes invited papers as well as those accepted via an open-submission process. Learn more »
Meaning and Experience of Work ; Adult Development and Aging
14 June 2012—Dr. Jacquelyn James will be speaking at the Barnstable Senior Center in Hyannis on June 14, 2012. Learn more »
136th Boston College Commencement
23 May 2012—Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Center director and Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Social Work, congratulates Dr. Melissa Brown, Dr. Sandee Tisdale, and Dr. Christina Matz-Costa upon receiving their doctoral degrees at the 136th Boston College Commencement.
2012 NIA-funded Institute on Research in Aging and Social Work
18 May 2012—Christina Matz-Costa, Center Senior Research Associate has been accepted to the 2012 NIA-funded Institute on Research in Aging and Social Work
Workplace and Career Flexibility for Older Workers
4 May 2012—Samantha Greenfield, Center Employer Engagement Specialist speaks at World at Work Conference about Workplace and Career Flexibility for Older Workers.
Tapping Mature Talent: Policies For A 21st Century Workforce
2 May 2012—Tapping Mature Talent: Policies For A 21st Century Workforce presented by The Council For Adult And Experiential Learning & The National Governors Association at the National Press Club, Washington D.C. ...more »
Workplace Age Diversity: Bridging the Generational Gap
25 April 2012—An evening of learning and sharing especially designed for graduate alumni of Boston College May 3, 2012 ...more »
Barbara Berkman, Strategy Council member at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work, receives the ACS’s 2012 Distinguished Achievement in Cancer Award
20 April 2012—Dr. Berkman is the Helen Rehr/Ruth Fizdale Professor of Health and Mental Health at Columbia University School of Social Work.... more »
Recruit, Retain and Integrate Older Workers — Inside E Street
13 April 2012—Samantha Greenfield, Center Employer Engagement appeared with Lark McCarthy on Inside E-Street... more »
Hartford Foundation Awards Tina Matz-Costa $100,000 to Expand on the Work of the Center's Engaged as We Age Research Team
10 April 2012—The goal of the study is to understand the experience of psychological engagement among a sample of relatively healthy adults aged 65 to 79 ... more »
Roundtable Phone Call for the Center’s Research Fellows
4 April 2012—Christina Costa, Senior Research Associate at the Center, along with Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes and Jackie James convenes the second roundtable phone call ... more »
Melissa Brown Successfully Defends Dissertation
30 March 2012—Dr. Brown’s dissertation explores important questions related to the experiences of today’s working caregivers. ...more »
Innovations in the Workplace for Caregiving Employees
28 March 2012—Dr. Jacquelyn James, Director of Research, Sloan Center on Aging & Work will be co-presenting at the American Society on Aging …more »
Sloan Center Launches Innovative Practices Database Prototype
26 March 2012—The searchable database houses 26 summaries of innovative practices from industry sectors such as health care, pharmaceutical, financial services, education and manufacturing ... more »
Optimizing the Long Future of Aging: The Meaning and Experience of Engagement
21 March 2012—Dr. Jacquelyn James, Director of Research, Sloan Center on Aging & Work will be giving a talk … more »
Data Training and Users Workshop for the Longtitudinal Study of Generations
19 March 2012—Elyssa Besen, Ph.D. candidate in the Lynch School of Education and research assistant at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work has been selected as one of 15 scholars from across the U.S. ...more »
Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes honored with Diversity Education Series Award
4 March 2012—Dr. Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Sloan Center on Aging & Work Director, received recognition from the Boston Globe … more »
Innovative Practices of Workplace Flexibility and the Aging Workforce
20 February 2012—Last Friday, February 17, Samantha Greenfield, Employer Engagement Specialist and Kim Lee DeAngelis, Research Associate, presented at Biogen Idec in Weston, MA.... more »
Building Your Bridge to Retirement—Inside E Street
13 February 2012—Kevin E. Cahill, research economist at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work, appeared with Lark McCarthy of AARP to discuss encore careers and bridge jobs on “Inside E-Street.”.. More »
Louisiana Leadership Summit keynote address
30 January 2012—Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Director of the Sloan Center on Aging & Work, will be the keynote speaker …
The Aging Workforce: Challenges for the Health Care Industry Workforce
25 January 2012—On January 26th , Sloan Center Director of Research, Jacquelyn James, will be a panelist at the Health Care Industry Workforce Strategies meeting at the Raritan River Conference Center, NJ.
WEBINAR: Hallmarks of Innovative Practices of the Aging Workforce
20 January 2012—On January 23rd , Sloan Center Employer Engagement Specialist, Samantha Greenfield and Research Associate, Kim Lee DeAngelis, will discuss Age: A 21st Century Diversity Imperative and Flexibility Strategies
Mary Catherine Bateson, Visiting Scholar at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work, Receives the Lifetime Achievement Award in Social Change and Positive Aging from Fielding Graduate University
9 December 2011—Writer and cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson is slated to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in Social Change and Positive Aging from Fielding Graduate University.
Inside E Street, AARP interview with Kevin Cahill
7 December 2011—Sloan Center Research Economist, Kevin Cahill, is being interviewed by AARP on Inside E Street
Older Workers Are Most Engaged, Committed, and Satisfied with Their Jobs — Generations of Talent Study
1 December 2011—A new research study by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College examines work experiences of employees, finding that those 40 years old and older are the most engaged and demonstrate the highest level of organizational commitment, and that those 50 years old and older are the most satisfied with their jobs.
Talent Management Responses to the Aging Workforce: The Case of American Employers
18 November 2011—Stephen Sweet, Sloan Research Fellow, will present findings from the Talent Management Study at the Gerontological Society of America’s 64th Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston (Nov 18-22). More »
Symposium: Cross-National Variation in Work Outcomes amongst Older Adults: The Generations of Talent Study
18 November 2011—On November 21, Researchers from the Sloan Center will present a series of papers based on the Generations of Talent Study (GOT) at the Gerontological Society of America’s 64th Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston (Nov 18-22). More »
Symposium "Older Workers in an Aging Workforce: A Global Perspective”
16 November 2011—On November 19, Dr. Allan Morgan, Sloan Center Research Fellow, will facilitate a discussion at the Gerontological Society of America’s 64th Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston (Nov 18-22). More »
Perceptions of Age Discrimination in the Workplace
14 November 2011—Jacquelyn James, Research Director at the Center, will present findings from a workplace-based study of over 6,000 employees at the Gerontological Society of America’s 64th Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston (Nov 18-22).
Mary Catherine Bateson, Visiting Scholar at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work
7 November 2011—Lecture Series by Mary Catherine Bateson, Part 5: November 8th “Connecting across Cultures” Understanding across cultural, racial, and ethical differences…….
Creating Positive Experiences as We Age
4 November 2011—Jacquelyn James, Research Director at the Center, will speak to the Boston College Alumnae Association in New York City, for a conference, Refining the Journey (Nov 7).
Enhancement to the Aging & Work Literature Database
2 November 2011—The Sloan Center’s unique resource provides a “first-stop” for locating reports and journal articles about the multi-generational workplace in the US and around the world
Aging Means Business: Design for a New Age
19 October 2011—The Sloan Center on Aging & Work is partnering with the Gerontological Society of America to support the 2011 Aging Means Business meeting. (Friday, November 18th, 2011).
Roundtable Phone Call for the Center’s Research Fellows
14 October 2011—Christina Costa, Senior Research Associate at the Center, along with Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes and Jackie James convened the first roundtable phone call for the Center’s research fellows (October 11).
How Top Companies Are Acting on Predictions And Trends
12 October 2011—Samantha Greenfield, our employer engagement specialist will present at Working Mother’s WorkLife Conference ...
Optimizing the long future of aging: Engaged as We Age
11 October 2011—Over the last few weeks, Jacquelyn James, director of research at the Center has given variations of a presentation, “Optimizing the long future of aging: Engaged as We Age” ...
Learning About Retirement Research Across the Globe: A Visit From South Korea
5 October 2011—The Sloan Center hosted research colleagues from Samsung Life Insurance: Retirement Research Center, South Korea: Jae Hyung Cha, Chief Research Fellow, Jaeryong Woo, Vice President and Yun Soo Cho, Research Fellow.
Sloan Foundation Awards Center on Aging & Work $2.7M to Study Effects of Time and Place Management on Business Bottom Line
23 June 2011—Center to gather evidence of business-relevant outcomes associated managing when and where work gets done.
Stimulating Innovation in Time and Place Management
31 May 2011—Center to Connect Flexible Work Arrangements with Economic/Business Outcomes.
Skill Gaps Urging Employers to Think Beyond “Age”
29 April 2011—Considering an employee’s career stage and tenure may inform recruitment and retention … and to manage organizational knowledge.
Older Workers More Engaged Than Younger Employees
25 March 2011—Newly published study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior discusses job conditions to increase engagement
As Old as You Feel …
17 February 2011—Age is not just a number. It’s how others perceive you; it’s what you’ve experienced …
The Value of Multi-Generational Workplaces
8 January 2011—Younger/older worker collaboration can spark business innovation
New Sloan Center on Aging & Work Web Resource Defines, Illustrates Benefits of Flexibility in the US
7 December 2010—Businesses, employees and society win with flexibility
Older Adults Struggle in Job Search
16 November 2010—Improving search strategies and engaging in more training may enhance older job seekers’ outcomes
Working In Retirement: A 21st Century Phenomenon
6 October 2010—Working in retirement may be a new life stage
Flexible Redesign an Option to Fill Manufacturing Skills Gap
1 October 2010—Workplace flexibility as cost saving recruitment/retention strategy
Organizational Culture Change, Energy Training, and Stress Reduction — Effective Global Responses to Employee Health Needs
23 September 2010—Customizing cultures of health can reduce costs and improve employee well-being and productivity
Unexpected Non-Retirement of Japanese Creates Business Tension, Opportunity
16 September 2010—Human resource strategy and age-related markets keys for further development
Aging, Shrinking Labor “Problem” Forces Japanese Human Resource Innovation
13 September 2010—Japanese corporate culture has been slower to develop strategic perspective
Amidst High National Unemployment, Plenty of Jobs In Healthcare
24 August 2010—Expanding health care need could provide numerous attractive jobs
Sloan Center Collateral Wins National Media Award
13 July 2010—Brochure honored in largest awards program of its kind
Manufacturing May be Facing Another Problem
22 June 2010—Retirement could affect applicant pool and cost of training new workers
Gender, Age & Job Satisfaction
20 May 2010—New analysis addresses older worker job satisfaction and the paradox of the content female worker
Director Comments on White House Forum
15 April 2010—Seeing Flexibility as Competitive Advantage is Critical
Flexibility Honored With Presidential Commitment
12 April 2010—The White House Forum on Workplace Flexibility asserted that companies with flexible work arrangements could actually have lower turnover and absenteeism, higher productivity, and healthier workers.
Flexible Options Positive for Business, Health and the Nation
06 April 2010—Better mental and physical health linked to flexibility
Aging & Work Director Invited to White House Forum
29 March 2010—Pitt-Catsouphes among distinguished work life thought leaders to discuss workplace flexibility
The “Contributions” Of Older Adults
26 March 2010—A Conversation with Jacquelyn B. James, Director of Research at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work
State Agencies Lead in Awareness, Lag in Change to Aging Workforce
8 March 2010—State agencies need age-responsive training to confront heightened risk of talent loss (from Training + Development Magazine)
Should UK employers drop retirement ages?
4 March 2010—Center Director Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes weighs in on UK government bid to abolish default retirement age of 65.
US Among Highest Rates of Older Workers Globally
25 February 2010—Currently men (28%) and women (27%) aged 45+ make up more than a quarter of the total economically active population in the US according to recent studies of both developed and developing economies published by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work. Trends are similar in Japan, however, the trend in the US is more than twice the percentage of economically active in Australia, France, and India within the same age group.
Older Workers More Engaged Than Younger Employees
25 February 2010—Are we coming to a point where we think that older adults who seek some supplemental resources or adjustments so that they can contribute are displaying a contagious strain of selfishness? Read David Brooks on “reverse generativity.”
Union Presence Bodes Poorly for Full-Time Employee Health Insurance Offerings
15 February 2010— Organizations without union presence more likely to offer health insurance to all employees (46%) than those with (26%).
Back in School a Second Time
12 February 2010—Two women experience challenges of non-traditional life/career stages
Sloan Center Work Cited Among Top 10 Work Life Culture Stories of 2009
1 February 2010—The multi-generational workforce gets a serious look for its work life emphasis and proactive recommendations for employee engagement.
Country Context Matters in Work-Life Adoption
28 January 2010—As many as 70% of American and 67% of British employers state that flexible hours are available for employees, compared with just 36% of French employers. Why the discrepancy?
Older Workers Seen as More Loyal But More Resistant to Change
25 January 2010—In a recent survey of state agencies by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work, late-career employees were perceived most positively by state agencies with regard to having a strong work ethic (95%), being loyal to the agency (94%), and having low turnover rates (87%) in comparison to the early and mid-career employees. However, when looking at the state agencies’ perceptions of negative attributes of employees, late-career employees were perceived to be the most resistant to change (41%).
US Among Highest Rates of Older Workers Globally
25 January 2010—Age perceptions affect both younger and older workers. The new age demographics of today’s workforce will continue to be challenging until we are able to set aside negative expectations that reflect stereotypes rather than abilities. Across the country, younger people and older people are trailblazing new territory with regard to age-related norms and expectations.
“Innovation Lab” to Transform Team Creativity into Business Solutions
25 January, 2010—Even though most companies are aware of changing workplace and marketplace demographics, fewer than a third of U.S. firms have taken proactive steps to transform awareness into action, according to recent Center studies.
How Much Does Age Matter and What Business Can Do About It
22 January 2010—With four generations now working side by side, and the aging of Baby Boomers, it's easy for employers to want to group employees and make assumption about age cohorts and what they want.
What is the Age-Identity of your Organization?
14 January 2010—Considering the larger social climate, there may be some tip-toeing around age, which is a short-sighted approach. Age is indeed a diversity issue, but one that connects to the basic foundations of organizational efficiency and success...
State Workforces Can Be Competitive Despite Threat of Brain Drain
16 December 2009—In an effort to address the forthcoming evaporation of talent, the top current priority reported among state agencies, increasing productivity through increased efficiency, was nearly unanimously 100%, according to the States as Employers-of-Choice survey by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work (Fall 2008).
State Agencies Failing to Engage Older Workers
16 December 2009—The Sloan Center on Aging & Work announces the Facts Database, available to the public on the Center’s website: www.bc.edu/research/agingandwork. The Facts Database provides over 1700 statistics on workforce trends. Facts have been selected from the Center's own research, journal articles, and reports published by non-profit and for-profit agencies and organizations. Each fact is coded with one or more topics for ease of searching. Graphs and figures are also included.
State Agencies Failing to Engage Older Workers
7 December 2009—State government agencies are particularly at risk of facing workforce shortages in the next ten years and beyond, as 47% of state government workers are aged 45+, compared to 37% of private sector employees…
Staying “Age-Responsive” in a Climate of New Organizational Challenges
1 December 2009—In some ways, there is nothing subtle about the recession’s effects on workers’ priorities. It’s a simple economic equation. Employees need to work longer, sometimes to make ends meet, but certainly to prepare for retirement …
Supporting Workplace Culture Change
30 November 2009—Culture change is happening all around us. Shifts in the age demographics of the workforce are changing workers’ expectations with regard to retirement, career paths, and when, where, and how work gets done. This does not mean, however, that organizational culture and practices have necessarily caught up.
When We Look Back, What Will We Say About Lessons Learned?
30 November 2009—It is incumbent on workplace leaders to read the terrain of today’s business environment, applying lessons learned from the past to the complexities that characterize today’s business realities. Findings from the 2009 Talent Management Study, recently completed by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work, has found that few employers have adopted strategies that could help them to capitalize on some of the opportunities associated with the aging of the workforce.
Leading Edge Strategic Adaptation
19 November 2009—While the predictions of dramatic shifts have been confronting organizational leaders for some time, lags in planning for age-related change or simple neglect have generally been the rule. Of course, exceptions do exist. A minority of employers (12%) surveyed by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work …
Despite Warnings, U.S. Companies Remain Unprepared for Baby Boomers’ Exodus
17 November 2009—With millions of Baby Boomers poised to age out of the workforce, US companies remain unprepared for the imminent talent desert that promises to alter the productive capacity of business and disrupt the national economic landscape …
The Way We Were … And Still Are
13 November 2009—With economic pressures now heavily influencing business strategy and workplace culture, it is complicated to know where workforce planning alone ranks as a priority. Has age-related workforce planning become relegated to secondary or even invisible status?
Visions for a New Future of Aging
11 November 2009—The world of work has yet to fully embrace new assumptions and expectations about aging. Neither have social policies and laws caught up to the changing context of aging …
Flexibility Adoption Result of Management Age Not Workforce Makeup
09 November 2009—Workforce demographics matter less than the age of leadership. A new analysis shows how the age of management predicts in the adoption of flexible work options in nonprofit and for-profit organizations …
"Beyond Age" Workshop Challenges Perceptions of Self and Co-workers
2 November 2009—You can’t hide your age. Neither can you hide how other people perceive it. But, as it turns out, that’s ok! Knowing how old you are, or appear to be, can be beneficial for you and your colleagues at work.
Optimal Fit Means Flexible Management
30 October 2009—Optimal fit means flexible management - From adjusted workday start and stop times, to time off for professional development, to family leave, to work-from-home choices, to delayed retirement, the list of flexible work options is growing for America’s workforce.
Driving Innovation With Age Diversity
30 October 2009—There has been a paradigm shift with regard to aging and work. Not so long ago, we linked “older workers” to “retirement.” The old way of thinking suggested that the most important resource employers could offer older workers was a solid retirement package (and maybe a watch). In the spring of 2010, the Center implemented the first of their Executive Innovation Labs, designed to support workplace leaders interested in leveraging the power of age diversity.
Sloan Center Launches Engaged as We Age Project
26 October 2009—Growing old in America is not what is used to be. In response to the changing demographics of the 21st century, older adults in America now have multiple life engagements—in continued work, in volunteer activities, in education and other learning activities, in care-giving for family members and friends. But what is their collective impact?
Changing Age Demographics: Business Imperative or HR Distraction?
10 October 2009—What are you doing in your organization to ensure that this issue remains a business priority? Please join us for what promises to be a provocative and highly interactive online presentation discussing the Center's latest study, representative of small, medium, and large businesses in a variety of industries.
When the Going Gets Tough - Get Flexible! - Flexible Work Options in the Private And Public Sectors
06 October 2009—When the Going Gets Tough–Get Flexible: Flexible Work Options in the Private and Public sectors. In its States as Employers-of-Choice Survey (2009) and National Study of Business Strategy and Workforce Development (2006), the Sloan Center on Aging & Work has found that private sector companies and public sector agencies share many of the same economic and workforce pressures and goals (such as increasing productivity, workforce management, and cost leadership), although to varying degrees of priority.
The Flex Factor - Workers and Companies Benefit from Job Options
06 October 2009—The Age & Generations Study, conducted by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College in 2008, surveyed 2,210 U.S. workers to examine the extent to which age, career, and life-stage influenced employees’ experiences at work. More than 78% of respondents said that having access to flexible work options contributes to their success as employees to a “moderate” or “great extent,” and 90% reported that having access to flexible work options contributes to their overall quality of life to a “moderate” or “great extent.”
Unretiring
22 September 2009—Statistics on employers' perceptions of older workers and technology from the Sloan Center on Aging and Work are cited by CNN Money.
Thought Leadership for States
14 September 2009—The public sector workforce has 11.3% more of the workforce eligibility for retirement in the next ten years when compared to private sector. Also, state agencies were more likely to have analyzed their workforce demographics than private sector organizations surveyed (69.9% vs. 42.2%, respectively).
Layoffs Toughest on Young, Older Workers
6 September 2009—Young adults are more at risk for losing their jobs and homes in a recession, while people later in life are more likely to declare bankruptcy in order to protect their assets, said the center's Co-Director of Research Tay McNamara, in an article by Mike Schneider and Errin Haines with the Associated Press.
With Age Comes the Wisdom to Roll with the Punches at Work
4 September 2009—The Center's Age & Generations Study hits home at the Center for Corporate Citizenship – and specifically at the desk of a baby boomer.
Age as an Asset/Deficit
28 August 2009—Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes comments on valuing differences based on workers' age when considering different approaches to customer service.
When Are You (Too) Old? And What Can You Do About It ?
27 August 2009—As described in the Center’s Global Issue Brief “When is a Person Too Young or Too Old to Work?”, like adulthood and middle age, the ideal age to transition into retirement years is socially defined. We should remember that retirement, as a discrete life stage, did not exist prior to the industrial economies of 20th century. Presently the length of retirement and accompanying lifestyle changes are continually shifting to correspond with the values of current generations.
Age as Asset/Deficit
27 August 2009—Age Diversity is a good thing! Older workers (by virtue of their life stage, experience, career stage, or perhaps generational perspectives) may be well suited to customer service work. They tend to bring patience and social intelligence to the workplace. Younger workers (by virtue of their life stage, career stage, lack of experience, or perhaps generational perspectives) may bring a lot of competencies to the workplace, but they tend to lack customer savvy. But, it is less important to document these variations than it is to harness and share the “wealth” of the positive differences.
To Engage or Discourage? Perceptions and Keys to Leveraging Older Workers
30 July 2009—The economic downturn is visibly affecting more than job availability for older workers; job quality is also suffering. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there has been a staggering 30% increase in claims of age discrimination over the previous year. Research studies do find that employers recognize that older workers contribute at least some value to their organizations. However, negative attitudes about older adults persist.
How Old Are You?
30 July 2009—How old are you? The Sloan Center on Aging & Work refers to age as the “prism of age” because age is multi-dimensional. People may feel “old” in some ways, but “young” in other ways. Findings from the Age & Generations Study suggest that many people 50+ say they are still in early career. In short, different age-related factors complicate or inform how we see our own or another person’s “age.”
Older Workers Need Flexibility, Training, But Often Fail to Get It
30 July 2009—Jacquelyn James, the Center's Co-director of Research, comments on the difficulties older workers experience when their companies fail to accommodate the aging labor force.
Why are Young Workers Less Engaged Today?
8 July 2009—"Some older workers have seen it all, and that gives them experiential resilience. Younger workers just don't have the depth of experience ..." Sloan Center research evaluating the effects of the recession on employee engagement across generations is featured by Diversity.Inc.
Remembering When And How Age Can Affect Employment Experiences
29 June 2009—State & Private Sector Benefits—According to a 2009 analysis of National Compensation Survey data, "among public sector workers, State government workers had higher rates of access to wellness programs and employee assistance programs than did local government workers." Private sector workers had least access to such services. For further information, see the States as Employers of Choice.
Remembering When And How Age Can Affect Employment Experiences
29 June 2009—What is the business case for focusing on talent management issues during this economic downturn? From a risk management perspective, what are some possible unintended consequences of not paying enough attention to employees during these tumultuous times? How does age (and age related factors such as career stage or life cycle experiences) affect the outcomes? Review The Difference a Downturn Can Make: Assessing the Early Effects of the Economic Crisis on the Employment Experiences of Workers.
Multinational Study Launched
25 June 2009—How do employees’ priorities, needs, utilization of workplace-based resources, and satisfaction with quality of employment vary by their age, career stage, and life stage? How does country context, including public policies and cultural orientations, influence …
Employees Strength in Downturn
24 June 2009—In a new analysis of the Age & Generations Study, 41% of responding employees reported not having access to the flexible work options they need to fulfill their work and personal needs.
Training & Development Opportunities Impact Engagement
01 June 2009—Training & Development Opportunities Impact Engagement - According to the 2008 WorkTrends Survey, "half of workers (50%) and those looking for work say they feel as if they need more education and training, and nearly two-thirds (61%) say they would like more education and training."
Age Diversity = Opportunity
01 June 2009—How does age diversity compound the challenges/opportunities of global talent management?
Age Diversity = Opportunity
29 May 2009—Over the course of the past year the center has been conducting work focusing on the ways that "age can matter" in different countries around the world. Researchers from the countries listed below have been: gathering descriptive demographic information and data about economic and social indicators.
Keeping Fit with Flexibility
20 May 2009—In new Sloan Center Age & Generations Study, 41.4% of the employees who responded reported that they do not have access to the flexible work options they need to fulfill their work and personal needs “at all” or only “to a limited extent.”
Worker's Needs Vary By Age
14 May 2009—Keeping employees engaged in the midst of layoffs, pay cuts and a skittish economy can be difficult. Kelly Faircloth of Inc.com interviews Research Associate Tina Matz-Costa about the center's research on employee engagement.
Landing a Job Though You're Not Young Anymore
6 May 2009—What stereotypes hamper older workers' job hunts? Results of a 2007 survey of employer perceptions by BC's Sloan Center on Aging & Work, and comments by director Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, are highlighted by Forbes' Tara Weiss.
Now Hiring Retired Seniors
29 April 2009—Director Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes comments on the advantages older workers can bring to business for CBS Evening News »
Retaining Older Workers with Responsive Work Environments
27 April 2009—Retaining Older Workers with Responsive Work Environments—like offering trainings to learn new skills, to keep knowledge up-to-date, or learning entirely types of jobs. Employers needing to develop new strategies for the recruitment and retention of older workers can profit from leading edge evidence for improving business outcomes.
Does Age Still Matter Today?
27 April 2009—Does Age still Matter? - The Age & Generations Study recently conducted by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work found that there are variations in the ways that employees experience their jobs. In today's topsy turvey world, it is important for employers to remember that the impact of age might not be as simple as employee’s year of birth. Other age-related factors, such as career-stage, job tenure, or dependent care status can have a significant impact on work experiences.
States as Employers-of-Choice
27 April 2009—Education and training continues to be the cornerstone of the efforts that states make to link workforce development with plans for sustainable economic progress.
When is a Person Too Young or Too Old to Work?
25 April 2009—In the study When is a Person Too Young or Too Old to Work? author Steve Sweet uses the European Social Survey (2006-2007) to study the differences in age expectations across Europe to find that, "while aging is driven by biological factors, the statuses associated with age are socially conferred."
New Employee Engagement Study Defines How Employers Can Harness the Power of a Multi-Generational Workforce
21 April 2009—The challenging economy has forced more and more employers to focus on how they can “do more with less” and increase productivity with their workforce. A new MetLife Mature Market Institute study, conducted in partnership with Boston College’s Sloan Center on Aging & Work, indicates that employers have significant opportunities to maximize the strength of their workforces and optimize workforce productivity through practices geared to the various generations.
How Providing Eldercare Affects Your Job Security
17 April 2009—Director Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes quoted by Emily Brandon in U.S. News & World Report (see expcerpt below, or read the blog here »)
Think Age is Enough to Predict Worker Needs? Think Again
9 April 2009—Business policies to keep and engage good workers often are based on assumptions of employees’ age. But they may miss the mark.
State Employment Aged 55+ with College Degree
10 March 2009—Education and training continues to be the cornerstone of the efforts that states make to link workforce development with plans for sustainable economic progress.
Sloan Center Releases Summary of Older Worker Engagement, Job Quality, Health, Well-being
23 February, 2009—Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes cites lingering stereotypes that older workers are more expensive, less productive and resistant to change, in an article by Clare Ansberry of the Wall Street Journal.
Age Discrimination in the Current Economy
6 February 2009—Director Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes discusses challenges for older workers on KQED's "Forum."
State Employment Rates For Persons Aged 55+
3 February 2009—Although the aging of the population is a national trend, its impact varies from state to state given the discrepancies in the states' demographic and economic situations.
Sloan Center Releases Summary of Older Worker Engagement, Job Quality, Health, Well-being
26 November 2008—There are many stereotypes regarding the plight of older workers, but this new research funded in part by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work dispels the myth of older worker disengagement and focuses on the real situations of worker health and well-being employed by "CitiSales," a company recognized by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) for its focus on older employees.
Older Workers Need Support for Employment, Retirement
24 November 2008—For many older men and women, Social Security payments will not be enough to live on during their retirement. Studies indicate that many do not have sufficient equity or savings to cover retirement, even without the current financial crisis.
Minding the Gap Between US Employees/Employers
14 November 2008—Train passengers in the UK are cautioned to mind the gap between the platform and the train. Similarly, when considering the quality of employment, there are many gaps employers and employees should be aware of.
Older and Out of Work: The Job Search
23 October 2008—Most older American workers who lose their jobs in the troubled U.S. economy will receive little or no advance notice of their layoff, little or no severance, limited assistance in terms of unemployment insurance and few resources to assist in their reemployment.
Sloan Center Issue Brief on Older Workers Cited
15 October 2008—"Unemployment has been increasing nationwide and last month stood at 6.1 percent. Nebraska's unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in August, the latest figure available"—Joe Ruff of the Omaha World-Herald quotes Sloan Center research.
Consider Skilled Retirees, Older Workers to Fill Work-force Shortage
11 October 2008—Between 2002 and 2012 there will be only a 1% increase in the labor force participation of people aged 20 to 24; Frank Burns of Federal Times.com cites Sloan Center Research.
Older and Out of Work: The Job Search
22 September 2008—Examining the impact of unemployment on older Americans, authors claim that "layoffs will be a cruel fact of life for many older workers. They face far tougher challenges as they seek to return to work than their younger counterparts."
Grant Will Fuel Sloan Center’s Global Initiatives
20 July 2008—The centerpiece of the grant will be within the Center's Global Initiatives program. This summer the center research team will embark on a series of cross-national comparative studies, putting the center's work in the global perspectives of today's talent management while encouraging workplace adoption of quality employment for the multi-generational workforce.
Center on Aging & Work Receives $3.5 Million from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
18 June 2008—The Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College receives its second major grant $3.5 Million. The grant ensures the next three years of work at the center and confirms the success of the center’s employer and academic engagement strategy.
Minding the Gap: Center Convenes Global Colloquia in London
16 June 2008—Center Director Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes presented Minding the Gap: Talent Management, Employee Priorities and Remaining an Employer-of-Choice, encouraging discussion on how changing age demographics are impacting UK and European employers.
Governments of 20 Countries Ahead of U.S. In Promoting Workplace Flexibility
28 May 2008—In the context of U.S. demographic and economic changes, an explicit right to request flexible work could play an important role in preparing the U.S. economy for the future.
Aging & Work Seizes Global Challenge
21 May 2008—Just as the 21st century knowledge economy has been expanding globally, so have the Center's interests. This month, the Center on Aging & Work is announcing its Global Initiatives, a partnership with the Middlesex University Business School in London.
Director Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes Guest on Experience Talks
15 April 2008—Joined by filmmaker Errol Morris, Civic Ventures CEO/Founder Marc Freedman and artist John Outterbridge, Director Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes discusses retirement in the second half of life.
New Study: States Need 50+ Workers for Economic Vitality
2 April 2008—According to a new policy brief by the Boston College Center on Aging & Work and AARP, the future vitality of the commonwealth will likely depend on 50-plus workers, and it’s down to state leadership to capitalize on the coming age wave.
Do 50+ Workers Want to Stay in the Workforce? What are Employers' Top HR Challenges?
18 March 2008—Now, in addition to browsing downloadable fact sheets on today's multi-generational workforce, employers and researchers affiliated with the Center on Aging & Work will be able to search our easy-to-access Aging & Work Facts database of important workforce facts, tables and charts to answer questions like these.
Toward a Multi-generational Workforce
13 February 2008—A new institute of the Center on Aging & Work will help states recognize the aging public sector workforce as a potential economic asset, say directors Mick Smyer and Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, shown here with staffers (rear, L-R) Tay McNamara and Michelle Wong.