Engaging the Aging Workforce The Relationship Between….pdfVIP

Journal of Applied Psychology Copyright 2007 by the American Psychological Association 2007, Vol. 92, No. 6, 1542–1556 0021-9010/07/$12.00 DOI: 10.1037/0021-90542 Engaging the Aging Workforce: The Relationship Between Perceived Age Similarity, Satisfaction With Coworkers, and Employee Engagement Derek R. Avery Patrick F. McKay Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee David C. Wilson University of Delaware Business publications and the popular press have stressed the importance of creating conditions for meaningful employee expression in work roles, also known as engagement. Few empirical studies, however, have examined how individual or situational factors relate to engagement. Consequently, this study examines the interplay between employee age, perceived coworker age composition, and satisfac- tion with older (older than 55) and younger (younger than 40) coworkers on engagement using a sample of 901 individuals employed in the United Kingdom. Results indicated that satisfaction with one’s coworkers related significantly to engagement. Moreover, perceived age similarity was associated with higher levels of engagement among older workers when they were highly satisfied with their coworkers