Planned retirement age

Do Attachment to Work and Expectations Relating to Workplace Adjustments Matter

Bibliographic Data

ID6058461
AuthorsMarie-Eve Dufour (0000-0002-2984-670X, Université Laval), Tania Saba (0000-0001-6861-8323, Université de Montréal), Felix Ballesteros Leiva (Université Laval)
Year2021
Volume40
Issue7
Pages892-906
Publication date2021-10-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEqual Opportunities International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1758-7093 • E-ISSN: 2040-7149
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/edi-09-2020-0281
OpenAlexW3124697972
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited56

Purpose In the context of population aging, retirement has become a central issue in academic, professional and government discourse. A consensus can be seen to be emerging around the idea of postponing retirement in favor of promoting active aging. From this perspective, the purpose of this study, using work-role attachment theory and met expectations theory, is to focus on the pre-retirement period and aims to better understand how certain individual factors and expectations explain the planned age of retirement. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was administered in 2015 to employees aged 45 and over working at a Canadian firm in the high-technology sector. Findings The results show that career commitment, attachment to work and expectations relating to workplace adjustments prior to retirement were positively associated with planned retirement age, whereas expectations relating to professional development showed a negative association with this variable. Practical implications This study fits into a line of research focusing on the end-of-career period and sheds light on the decision to retire by looking closely at the impact of employment conditions and human resource management practices on this decision. In a labor market context marked by high numbers of workers aged 55 and older, combined with the increasingly critical need for skilled labor and considering the expectations of workers leading up to their retirement could help to better plan these workers' end-of-career period. Originality/value Many studies have examined the characteristics of retirees after retirement. The authors’ study is one of the few that examines the aspirations of workers between the ages of 45 and 55 who are still employed but are beginning to consider their retirement plans, including the decision to continue working longer. Its originality also lies in combining work-role attachment theory and met expectations theory

Actuarial science · Business · Demographic economics · Economics · Labour economics · Mandatory retirement · Originality · Pension · Population · Population ageing · Retirement age · Retirement planning · Sociology · Employment and Welfare Studies · Psychology · Retirement, Disability, and Employment · Social Psychology · Work-Family Balance Challenges · Finance

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