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Dr Harriet Mowat recently addressed the IMA Conference at Stirling University. The article below is a summary of this presentation. A link to Mowat Research can be found at the foot of the article along with a link allowing you to download a Power Point presentation that accompanies this article.
Successful ageing in the workplace: implications for workplace chaplaincy
We are all ageing. Ageing is the universal shared by us all and experienced by us all differently. We are an ageing society and therefore and ageing workforce. Increasingly it is important to retain older staff, to draw on the wisdom and experience that they often bring and to think about legacy and succession both in individual and organisational terms.
The recent policy initiatives represented by the DWP clearly demonstrate the importance of work to our health and well being. This is not yet understood or taken on by businesses and workplaces. If more attention is paid to well being and health the economy benefits as does the individual.
The concept of successful ageing is well researched and gives us guidance and insight into how we might prepare for our ageing process both as individuals and groups. One aspect of successful ageing is the need for meaningful occupation. The workplace can provide for such needs. The workplace can create conditions for successful ageing and produce a resilient workforce which helps individuals manage life transitions and stay well. Another aspect of successful ageing is recognition of the spiritual journey. This implies that we are all on a spiritual journey and our ageing gives us opportunities to develop spiritually. There is a relationship between our spiritual journeys and our work.
Attention to both these aspects of ageing in the workplace, results in improvements to organisational productivity through reducing sickness absence, stress related workforce underachievement and accommodating training needs. It also promotes a positive attitude to ageing and to health which is a societal benefit.
Workplace chaplaincy can contribute to supporting workers to remain in work and to benefit from work so that they in turn can support younger workers. Work is part of who we are and how we describe ourselves. Workplace chaplaincy has an important role in interpreting the sociology of ageing and spirituality in the workplace and helping to create the conditions by which work can be beneficial and part of how we successful age.
H. Mowat
Click here to link to Mowat Reasearch
Click here to download the Power Point Presentation