# More 50+ Workers Means More 50+ Policy—Until it Doesn’t. The Non-Linear Relation Between Proportion of Older Workers and Implementation of Policies for Older Workers

## TL;DR

This study finds that having more older workers leads to more age-friendly policies, but only up to a point, after which the trend reverses.

## Contribution

The paper reveals a non-linear relationship between the proportion of older workers and the implementation of age-related policies.

## Key findings

- The number of implemented policies for older workers peaks when 30-50% of workers are 50+.
- Establishments with more older than younger workers implement fewer such policies.
- The pattern is most evident for policies related to phasing out older workers.

## Abstract

Personnel policies specifically for older workers can benefit both the older workers and their organization. It is often assumed that a higher percentage of older workers in an organization is associated with more policies for older workers. We hypothesize that policies accommodating older workers, such as extra leave or a reduced workload, become unfeasible if the proportion of older workers is high. We pooled data from five datasets to study eleven older-worker policies in 7330 Dutch establishments. The results show that the number of implemented personnel policies for older workers is highest in establishments where 30-50% of the workers are 50 years and older. The number of implemented policies is lower in establishments with more older than younger workers. This pattern is found for most phasing out policies.