COVID-19 and the workplace | Productive Aging in the Social Work Profession: A Comparison of Licensed Workers 60 Years and Older with Their Younger Counterparts  | Contemporary Perspectives on Ageism

COVID-19 and the workplace

Kniffin, K. M., Narayanan, J., Anseel, F., Antonakis, J., Ashford, S., Bakker, A. B., … van vugt, m. (2020, June 15). COVID-19 and the Workplace: Implications, Issues, and Insights for Future Research and Action.

https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/gkwme

COVID-19’s impacts on workers and workplaces across the globe have been dramatic. We present a broad review of prior research rooted in work and organizational psychology, and related fields, for making sense of the implications for employees, teams, and work organizations. Our review and preview of relevant literatures focuses on: (i) emerging changes in work practices (e.g., working from home, virtual teams) and (ii) economic and social-psychological impacts (e.g, unemployment, mental well-being). In addition, we examine the potential moderating factors of age, race and ethnicity, gender, family status, personality, and cultural differences to generate disparate effects. Illustrating the benefits of team science, our broad-scope overview provides an integrative approach for considering the implications of COVID-19 for work and organizations while also identifying issues for future research and insights to inform solutions.

Productive Aging in the Social Work Profession: A Comparison of Licensed Workers 60 Years and Older with Their Younger Counterparts

Straussner, S.L.A., Senreich, E. (2020). Productive Aging in the Social Work Profession: A Comparison of Licensed Workers 60 Years and Older with Their Younger Counterparts. Clin Soc Work J 48, 196–210.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-020-00747-y

This article reports the findings of an online survey in 13 U.S. states that compared the self-described demographics, wellness factors (mental health, physical health, and substance misuse), practice factors (fields of practice and work environment issues), and feelings about being a social worker (compassion satisfaction, workplace stress, being glad one chose social work and feeling valued as a professional in society) of 870 employed licensed social workers age 60 and older to 4076 licensed social workers under age 60. The results indicate that the older social workers were more likely to be male and white, less likely to report mental health problems, and more likely to work exclusively in private practice. Although older workers reported more serious physical health problems, they rated their physical health more favorably than their younger counterparts. In both bivariate and multivariate analyses, the older social workers scored significantly higher in compassion satisfaction, being glad they chose social work as a career, and feeling valued as a professional in society. The older social workers scored lower in workplace stress at levels that were statistically significant in a bivariate analysis, but not in a multivariate analysis.

Contemporary Perspectives on Ageism

Ayalon, L. & Tesch-Römer, C. (Eds.)

https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319738192

This open access book provides a comprehensive perspective on the concept of ageism, its origins, the manifestation and consequences of ageism, as well as ways to respond to and research ageism. The book represents a collaborative effort of researchers from over 20 countries and a variety of disciplines, including, psychology, sociology, gerontology, geriatrics, pharmacology, law, geography, design, engineering, policy and media studies. The contributors have collaborated to produce a truly stimulating and educating book on ageism which brings a clear overview of the state of the art in the field. The book serves as a catalyst to generate research, policy and public interest in the field of ageism and to reconstruct the image of old age and will be of interest to researchers and students in gerontology and geriatrics.