Older Mentors for Newer Workers: Impact of a Worker-Driven Intervention on Later Life Satisfaction

Abstract

Research identifies salient correlates of life satisfaction for aging workers as “sense of usefulness,” “perceiving ongoing respect,” and “meeting one's own expectations.” These correlates were presented to a group of older workers to elicit their suggestions on ways to actualize these findings in the workplace. A workplace intervention based on older workers’ suggestions was designed, implemented, and evaluated with a pilot sample of older workers. This article presents the intervention, its implementation, and the impact of the intervention on the life satisfaction of older workers, with implications for workplace retention. Findings address the impact of mentoring on life satisfaction of the mentors, with implications for retention. Findings suggest that older workers can enhance their life satisfaction while serving as a training resource. Impact on retention is tentative. Research is proposed to further evaluate impact of a worker-driven intervention.

KEYWORDS:

• continuity theory
• life satisfaction
• mentor
• older workers
• role theory

Dr. Stevens-Roseman expresses thanks to the workers who participated in this research, and to their workplace organization.