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How to integrate the aging of employees into occupational health policies: The approach of a French company

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Bonnet-Belfais, Monique | Cholat, Jean-François | Bouchard, Denis | Goulfier, Charles | Casselle, Adina | Schram, Jean

Affiliations: Health Corporate Delegation, EDF SA, Levallois-Perret, France | Employment Unit for Ile-de-France Area, EDF SA, Levallois-Perret, France | Research and Development Unit, EDF SA, Levallois-Perret, France

Note: [] Corresponding author: Monique Bonnet-Belfais, EDF SA. Service Etudes Médicales, 45 rue Kléber, 92309, LEVALLOIS-PERRET, France. Tel.: +33 1 82 24 84 30; E-mail: [email protected]

Keywords: Organization of work, human resource management, autonomy, occupational physical and mental wear and tear, shift work

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-131651

Journal: Work, vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 205-214, 2014

Received 4 July 2012
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Accepted 15 March 2013
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Published: 2014
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Since 2010, French companies must integrate or retain seniors to avoid a fine of 1% of their payroll.

OBJECTIVE: This work examines how to integrate the aging of employees into occupational health policies.

METHODS: The literature on the complex relationships between age, work and health has been reviewed, and the feasibility of potential actions has been addressed.

RESULTS: In the company setting, few diseases are specific to seniors. With retirement age postponing, chronic diseases may appear more frequently in people still working. Physiological aging linked to a functional decline is variable. Occupational wear and tear can result in some functional deterioration. Seniors can experience difficulties coping with heavy time demands that restrict their ability to organize the work, with physical stresses due to their diminished muscular capacity, and with unconventional schedules that have long-term deleterious effects on sleep quality and alertness.

CONCLUSIONS: This position paper makes recommendations for adapting work organization and occupational medical care. Protective measures for seniors should be integrated in a global approach to improving work conditions for all. Aging employees need some leeway to develop experience-based strategies for bypassing new difficulties. Revising work rhythms and developing autonomy seem to be means for progress.

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