Toward a sustainable working life for all ages: the swAge-model

Background: The demographic shift is fast becoming a global challenge. Populations ageing rapidly is widely seen as one of the most powerful transformative forces affecting society over the next four decades.
Due to the demographic challenge in most countries it is important to consider making working life sustainable. It is obvious that the main factor that distinguishes senior workers from other employees is their age. However, a sustainable working life is of importance in all age groups when working life will be extended to a higher age.

Aim: Towards a theoretical model with an impact on a sustainable working life for all ages, the swAge-model.

Method: The theoretical model, the swAge-model, is developed based on grounded theory using qualitative studies, quantitative studies, intervention projects and literature reviews.

Result: The swAge-model incorporates the four determinant spheres, divided into nine determinant areas, of employability and considerations spheres whether individuals can and want to participate in working life or not, i.e.:
Health effects of the work environment;
1. self-rated health, diagnoses and disability function variation,
2. physical work environment and injury prevention,
3. mental work environment, stress, effort/reward balance, violence and threats,
4. working hours, the pace at work, and recovery time, Finance;
5. private finances, Relationships and support;
6. Private social environment, family situation, partner, leisure interactions, socialisation,
7. work social environment, participation, social support, leadership and managerial
attitudes, discrimination,
Performance of tasks;
8. stimulating and self-crediting tasks, core in work, and work satisfaction,
9. knowledge, skills, competence, and opportunities for development.
Those determinant spheres and determinant areas associate to different ageing concepts, i.e.:
• biological ageing, • chronological ageing,
• social ageing, • cognitive ageing.

The model also includes proposed measures at the organisation/enterprise level and at the society level based on the four determinants spheres at the individual level.

Conclusion: The theoretical swAge-model describes how to reflect on working life and presents tools to extend working life in a sustainable way for older workers in modern society. The swAge
-model’s analysis and measure matrix could be a practical tool at the workplace for managers, HR and employees, and in the critical debate to make the working life sustainable for all ages.