Employment of older workers in Polish SMEs: employer attitudes and perceptions, employee motivations and expectations

Abstract

This paper, based upon semi-structured interviews with 20 entrepreneurs and employees from Polish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), discusses employer perceptions and attitudes towards senior employment, and older workers' motivations and expectations. It transpires, among other things, that all the entrepreneurs recognize the value of older employees and the need to accommodate them. However, most of them perceive older workers as inflexible, IT incompetent and having difficulty learning new things. The employers see the necessity of providing them with training and skill development but expect help from the state or the EU. Results also indicate that older employees are motivated – almost equally strongly – by a desire to improve their financial situation and to remain active. They favour flexible working arrangements and highlight the importance of fair treatment.

Keywords:

• age management
• work ability maintenance
• HRD
• SME
• Poland