Page 171 - Petelin, Ana, Nejc Šarabon, eds. 2018. Zdravje starostnikov ▪︎ Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo ▪︎ Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 171
R-VITAL: Joint measures for the vitality of older workers posterji | poster presentations
Klemen Širok
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
Financial incentives and the stricter retirement conditions are not the appro-
priate leverage for raising the employment rate of the elderly unless accompa-
nied by improved working conditions and flexibility in transition to retirement.
Prolongation of work activity is therefore the responsibility of individuals, com-
panies and the state, and it takes place at the workplace in contact between
an older worker and an employer. That's why the main goal of the STAR-VI-
TAL project is to support companies in setting up a safe and healthy workplace
aimed at extending working activity of older workers in Slovenia.
The project activities are based on the Model of Healthy Workplaces (WHO)
i.e. four dimensions on which it is necessary to plan and implement activities
in organizations: physical and psychosocial work environment, personal health
resources of the worker and cooperation with the social environment. Since
the needs and capabilities of companies differ, project activities are designed
to enable an individualized approach to the implementation of measures in 100
SMEs and 10 large companies at the level of the entire Western Slovenia.
An important challenge lies in identifying and developing the interests of both
individuals and businesses, as these actions do not bring immediate financial
benefits. In the absence of subsidies and direct financial incentives, employers
are in the role of gatekeepers, who largely moderate what will happen to old-
er employees in the workplace.
Keywords: older workers, healthy workplace, work activity
169
Klemen Širok
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
Financial incentives and the stricter retirement conditions are not the appro-
priate leverage for raising the employment rate of the elderly unless accompa-
nied by improved working conditions and flexibility in transition to retirement.
Prolongation of work activity is therefore the responsibility of individuals, com-
panies and the state, and it takes place at the workplace in contact between
an older worker and an employer. That's why the main goal of the STAR-VI-
TAL project is to support companies in setting up a safe and healthy workplace
aimed at extending working activity of older workers in Slovenia.
The project activities are based on the Model of Healthy Workplaces (WHO)
i.e. four dimensions on which it is necessary to plan and implement activities
in organizations: physical and psychosocial work environment, personal health
resources of the worker and cooperation with the social environment. Since
the needs and capabilities of companies differ, project activities are designed
to enable an individualized approach to the implementation of measures in 100
SMEs and 10 large companies at the level of the entire Western Slovenia.
An important challenge lies in identifying and developing the interests of both
individuals and businesses, as these actions do not bring immediate financial
benefits. In the absence of subsidies and direct financial incentives, employers
are in the role of gatekeepers, who largely moderate what will happen to old-
er employees in the workplace.
Keywords: older workers, healthy workplace, work activity
169
