Strategies and Challenges of Employing Older Workers in Contemporary Organizations

Contemporary arguments about HRM and its contribution to organizations

1.Critique and debate key and contemporary arguments about the theory and practice of HRM and how ethical expectations are met in practice whilst assessing its contribution to the organisation.

2.Evaluate and analyse workplace scenarios relating to relevant business strategies for professional, ethical, effective and efficient HRM within current organisational contexts

What am I required to do in this assignment?

People are living longer and working for longer and are in better health. Since 1960, life expectancy has climbed by eight years, and demographic projections foresee a further five-year increase over the next forty years.

The European Statistical Office projects that by 2060 there will be only two people of working age (15-64) in the EU, for every person aged over 65, compared to a ratio of four to one today. The strongest push in this direction is expected to occur during the period 2015-35 when the baby boomers who were born in the two decades after World-War II, start to retire (European Commission 2012). The authors, Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott[ The corporate implications of longer lives, Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott, MIT Sloan Management Review, spring 2017, Vol 58 No 2.], predict that, given the average level of savings of people in advanced economies, many currently in their twenties will be working into their seventies and perhaps their eighties. Their research also suggests employers are not prepared for the inevitable extension of working lives with only a few giving considered thought to the opportunities and challenges for their workforce.

Using the information provided in the document Case Studies for Assignment 1 (in the Assessment and Feedback Section on the BREO unit shell) write a short report of no more than 2000 words which addresses the following tasks:

1.Identify three examples of good practice/strategies for employing older workers and discuss why these are appropriate. The examples should be from different sectors within the case study.

2.Identify three key challenges, using wider reading, in employing older workers and discuss the implications of these challenges.

People are living longer and working for longer and are in better health. Since 1960, life expectancy has climbed by eight years, and demographic projections foresee a further five-year increase over the next forty years.

The European Statistical Office projects that by 2060 there will be only two people of working age (15-64) in the EU, for every person aged over 65, compared to a ratio of four to one today. The strongest push in this direction is expected to occur during the period 2015-35 when the baby boomers who were born in the two decades after World-War II, start to retire (European Commission 2012). The authors, Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott[ The corporate implications of longer lives, Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott, MIT Sloan Management Review, spring 2017, Vol 58 No 2.], predict that, given the average level of savings of people in advanced economies, many currently in their twenties will be working into their seventies and perhaps their eighties. Their research also suggests employers are not prepared for the inevitable extension of working lives with only a few giving considered thought to the opportunities and challenges for their workforce.

Evaluation of workplace scenarios for professional, ethical, effective, and efficient HRM within current organizational contexts

Using the information provided in the document Case Studies for Assignment 1 (in the Assessment and Feedback Section on the BREO unit shell) write a short report of no more than 2000 words which addresses the following tasks:

1.Identify three examples of good practice/strategies for employing older workers and discuss why these are appropriate. The examples should be from different sectors within the case study.

2.Identify three key challenges, using wider reading, in employing older workers and discuss the implications of these challenges.

3.Make recommendations as to how these challenges can be addressed and overcome.

What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

In order to pass Assessment 1 you will need to:

·Investigate a limited range of relevant literature around a topical HR issue impacting contemporary organisations.

·Evaluate literature to a basic level around current theories and practice of effective HRM and the basic strategies used to promote greater employee performance in organisations.

·Present a business report to a basic professional level  

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

We will be filling this section in together in class on Click or tap to enter a date. make sure you have downloaded/printed out the Assignment Brief and bring it to the session with you.

How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?

The aim of this assessment is to increase your critical thinking around HRM in organisations and how it is impacted regularly by environmental changes as well as developing your skills in in writing a practical business report.

As this assignment will be focused upon investigating the ageing workforce, you will take into consideration the external environment, the hyper-competitive state of organisations and the role of organisational stakeholders in creating a complex work environment that helps or hinders higher levels of employee performance and engagement. The first four teaching weeks as indicated in the guided learning folder on BREO establishes the context of  HRM with the pursuant weeks paying specific attention to key people management areas which you may wish to highlight more specifically in your discussion. The seminar sessions will help to consolidate your understanding of each of those areas in relation to the assignment.

Successful completion of the unit will give you a comprehensive and detailed overview of how you as a business management graduate with specialised knowledge of HR are able to make a greater impact in the organisation, increasing your contribution and effectiveness in working through and with your organisational colleagues to increase the well-being of the business for sustained competitive advantage.

How will my assignment be marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.

You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.