Engaging the aging workforce: The relationship between perceived age similarity, satisfaction with coworkers, and employee engagement

• 成果类型: Article; Proceedings Paper
• 署名作者: Avery, Derek R.; McKay, Patrick F.; Wilson, David C.
• 署名单位: University of Houston System; University of Houston; Rutgers University System; Rutgers University New Brunswick; University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Milwaukee; University of Delaware
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.92.6.1542
• 发表日期: 2007
• 页码: 1542-1556
• 关键词: age; diversity; engagement; Similarity; satisfaction with coworkers

摘要

Business publications and the popular press have stressed the importance of creating conditions for meaningful employee expression in work roles, also known as engagement. Few empirical studies, however, have examined how individual or situational factors relate to engagement. Consequently, this study examines the interplay between employee age, perceived coworker age composition, and satisfaction with older (older than 55) and younger (younger than 40) coworkers on engagement using a sample of 901 individuals employed in the United Kingdom. Results indicated that satisfaction with one's coworkers related significantly to engagement. Moreover, perceived age similarity was associated with higher levels of engagement among older workers when they were highly satisfied with their coworkers over 55 and lower levels of engagement when they were not.