Well-Being and Extended Working Life: A Gender Perspective

Description

Most European countries have experienced labour market reforms at varying times leading to extended working life and a postponement of retirement age. This book provides a gender perspective on the impact of extended working life on the different dimensions of well-being, the factors which can limit extended working life, and the working conditions of older workers. Over the course of 11 chapters the book explores factors that can limit access to paid work or affect working conditions for older workers, including care for dependent individuals, negative stereotypes surrounding aged workers and poor health. It also investigates differences in working conditions for older workers by gender compared to other groups of workers and across European countries including case-studies from Austria, France, Spain, Poland, Croatia, Albania and Turkey. It will be of interest to all scholars and students of social policy, sociology, gender studies and labour studies more broadly. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Figures Tables Contributors Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction to Well-being and Extended Working Life: A Gender Perspective Extended working life Changing workforce characteristics Examination of impacts of EWL policies by gender Contents of the book Policy recommendations Concluding remarks Note References 2. Extended Working Life in Austria and the EU28 - How Do Gender, Health and Life Satisfaction Relate to Longer Working Life? What Else Matters? Introduction Background Some statistical evidence Data analysis (the European Quality of Life Survey) Concluding remarks References 3. The Discrepancy between Actual and Preferred Work and Working Hours. Proposing a Triple-A Approach to Understand Employment and Time Constraints in the "Rush Hour" and "Autumn" of Working Life Introduction Literature review and concepts Explanations for preferences and mismatches Explaining mismatches through the Triple-A approach: Available, affordable and attractive employment and working hours Concepts of mismatches Main career phase Micro-level: Attractiveness depends on the availability of a good quality job, affordability and caring responsibilities Macro-level: Huge cross-country differences in the availability and affordability of employment and reduced working hours influence attractiveness Late career phase Micro-level: Attractiveness of work versus retirement depends on the availability of a quality job, affordability and health Macro-level: Do the availability, affordability and the attractiveness of desired working hours or retirement differ across countries and in terms of gender? Discussion: Assumptions on generational regimes Working time (preferences) before and during the COVID-19 crisis Limitations Conclusion References 4. The Working Conditions of Older Workers in Comparative Perspective Introduction The challenges of using comparative survey data to study working conditions Framing extending working lives in comparative perspective Mapping the employment patterns of older workers in comparative perspective Methodology: MCA techniques and data The main differentiating factors: The distribution of (physically) demanding working conditions and the (in)ability to articulate work and family life The secondary differentiating factors: The distribution of non-manual working conditions, employment status and working time patterns Conclusions Notes References Appendix 5. The Impact of Age and Perceived Age Discrimination on Job Satisfaction and Mental Health Introduction Literature review Data Empirical method Descriptive statistics Job satisfaction analysis Mental health analysis Discussion and conclusion Note References Appendix 6. Assessment of Extended Working Life in Albania on Various Dimensions of Well-Being from a Gender Perspective Context analysis Passive policies for extending working life Active labour market policies Education and training Job satisfaction and family obligations Policy reflections Notes References 7. Care for Dependent People and Extending Working Life in Poland Introduction Extending working life and its determinants Are care responsibilities a barrier to extending working life in Poland? Data and methods Care measurement Statistical analysis methods Care responsibilities in the job context - the situation of women and men in Poland People aged 50-64 as caregivers Determinants of extending working life - significance of care duties Institutional and organisational support for extending the working lives of caregivers Role of social policy Organisational support - the role of WLB measures Conclusions and final remarks Notes References 8. The Relationship between Self-rated Health and Employment during the Recent Economic Crisis; The Case of Spain Background Data and method Results Discussion Acknowledgements Notes References 9. Decision to Extend Working Life in Turkey and Its Relation to Subjective Well-being: A Qualitative Analysis from a Gender Perspective Introduction Methodology Data collection Ethical considerations Recruitment and participants Data analysis Limitations Findings Motivations to extend working life Current working experience Outcomes of working Plans for future Gender-based experiences Discussion and conclusion: SWB and working in later life Note References Appendix 10. Gender Differences in Working Conditions in France Introduction The employment of (older) women The professions where (older) women are more represented than men Exposure to risks and well-being Unemployment Gender gap in health status and well-being Effects of the COVID crisis on the labour market and the professional situation of (older) women in France Inequalities relating to a decline in economic activity The impact of COVID-19 on the professions of older women Conclusion Notes References Addendum COVID surveys in France with data on employment Attitudes of citizens towards COVID-19 The Coconel "Housing and Living Conditions" survey EpiCOV: Tracing the immune status of the population to guide public decision-making 11. (Active) Ageing, Gender and Social Policy Reforms: The Case of Pension and Eldercare Reforms in Croatia Introduction (Active) ageing, welfare state and gender: A conceptual framework (Active) ageing, gender and social policy reforms in Croatia Communist and early post-communist social policy legacy Croatian pension debates and developments The Croatian eldercare debates and developments Conclusion Note References Index