Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Retaining an ageing workforce: The effects of high-performance work systems and flexible work programmes

  • Luigi Stirpe*
  • , J. Trullen
  • , Jaime Bonache
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Indexed journal article Articlepeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Older workers make up a growing proportion of the workforce, and research on how best to manage them is being conducted accordingly. Here, we explored the employee retention payoff of high-performance work systems (HPWS) and flexible work programmes (FWPs) when used with an older workforce. Drawing from the job demands-resources model, we hypothesised that HPWS retention outcomes decrease as the workforce ages, whereas the retention capacity of FWPs increases. We also explored how the parallel provision of HPWS and FWPs affects workforce retention in more ageing workplaces. The results suggest that workforce age composition affects the HPWS-retention relationship. However, the value of FWPs as retention tools does not vary significantly with workforce ageing. Furthermore, the provision of FWPs alongside HPWS appears to be a less-than-optimal approach to this retention. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the HRM-performance relationship, while inspiring further research into successful age-differentiated HR strategies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)585-604
Number of pages20
JournalHuman Resource Management Journal
Volume28
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2018

Keywords

  • flexible work programmes
  • high-performance work systems
  • job demands-resources model
  • retention rate
  • workforce ageing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Retaining an ageing workforce: The effects of high-performance work systems and flexible work programmes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this