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The Role of Line Managers in Motivation of Older Workers

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Aging Workers and the Employee-Employer Relationship

Abstract

This chapter sets out to answer the question as to what extent and how line managers support older workers at work and to what extent their support influences the motivation and productivity of older workers. The role of line managers in the implementation of Human Resource (HR) policies has grown over the years. This role is particularly important in the case of older workers as their situations differ greatly and line managers can tailor HR policies to their individual preferences. The support which line managers provide to older workers has a positive effect on their motivation to continue in work and on their productivity. An important issue is whether line managers are able and willing to support older workers. An overview of relevant factors which impact on line manager’s activities shows that negative stereotypes about older workers have become less salient in recent years. Meanwhile, research shows that the opportunities and support for line managers are important determinants of how they provide actual support for older workers. The implications of these findings are discussed in the concluding section of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Governance, Utrecht University, Bijlhouwerstraat 6, 3511 ZC, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Eva Knies, Peter Leisink & Jo Thijssen

Authors
  1. Eva Knies
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  2. Peter Leisink
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  3. Jo Thijssen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eva Knies .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom

    P. Matthijs Bal

  2. Department of Human Resource Studies, University of Tilburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Dorien T.A.M. Kooij

  3. H. John Heinz III College, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Denise M. Rousseau

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Knies, E., Leisink, P., Thijssen, J. (2015). The Role of Line Managers in Motivation of Older Workers. In: Bal, P., Kooij, D., Rousseau, D. (eds) Aging Workers and the Employee-Employer Relationship. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08007-9_5

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