Age-Inclusive Workplaces: Celebrating the Contribution of Older People

International Day of Older Persons, held on 1 October, provides an opportunity to recognise the contribution older people make to society – including in our workplaces. For employers, it is also a useful opportunity to consider whether age is properly reflected within their DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) approach.

Older people contribute to organisations in many ways. They may be employees, managers, consultants, trustees or volunteers, and bring valuable skills, knowledge and experience to the roles they undertake.

The Value of Experience

So what are the benefits of having older people in the workplace? Experience is an obvious one. Older employees can bring industry knowledge, practical expertise, established professional relationships and valuable organisational memory. They can also support knowledge-sharing and mentoring across generations.

Research from the Centre for Ageing Better found that 79% of employers surveyed believed older workers could help with knowledge and skills sharing.

Volunteers should not be overlooked either. In charities, community organisations and many other sectors, older volunteers make an essential contribution through their time, skills and commitment.

Yet age-related assumptions can create barriers. Assuming that an older person is less interested in development, less comfortable with technology or approaching retirement can negatively influence recruitment, training and progression decisions, and open the door to discrimination. These are precisely the kinds of stereotypes an effective DEI strategy should seek to identify and address.

Creating Age-Inclusive Workplaces

So, how can employers support older workers?

Age inclusion does not necessarily require a separate set of complex policies. It starts with considering age throughout existing DEI, recruitment, development and wellbeing practices.

Practical steps can include:

• Reviewing recruitment: use objective, skills-based criteria and avoid language that could discourage candidates from particular age brackets.
• Offering flexibility: consider different working patterns and arrangements that can support people at different stages of their lives.
• Supporting learning: ensure training, development and career opportunities are available and accessible to everyone, regardless of age.
• Listening to employees: understand individual needs rather than making assumptions based on age.
• Building an inclusive culture: challenge ageist language, stereotypes and behaviours.

Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, and UK employment law protects people from age discrimination in areas including recruitment and employment. 

Importantly, an age-inclusive workplace benefits more than older employees. Different generations can share knowledge, challenge assumptions and learn from one another. Ageing Better describes this as building a multigenerational workforce, where different age groups can contribute and learn together. 

Celebrating Contribution

International Day of Older Persons is about more than recognising age. It is an opportunity to recognise contribution.

For businesses, that could mean celebrating an employee’s years of expertise, recognising a volunteer’s commitment, creating opportunities for mentoring or simply ensuring that people feel their experience continues to be valued.

It’s also worth asking if your organisation’s DEI strategy includes age. And, more importantly, does your workplace culture demonstrate that inclusion in practice?

Creating an age-inclusive workplace is not about making assumptions about what older people need. It is about creating an environment where individual needs can be understood, respected and accommodated – enabling people to contribute at their best.

At IDEA, we believe inclusion should be practical and individual. The IDEA Standard is designed to help organisations understand diverse needs, improve workplace practices and create environments where people can thrive.

This International Day of Older Persons, let’s celebrate the experience, skills and contribution that older employees and volunteers bring – and make sure age has a meaningful place within our approach to DEI.