A Quick "Environment Check" for All Ages: Validating the New Age-Inclusive Work Environments Instrument

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Human Resource Management
• Sociology of Work

Background:

• The aging global workforce requires age-inclusive work environments to ensure organizational sustainability and profitability.
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recommends age-inclusive practices for multigenerational workforces.
• Existing methods for assessing age inclusivity are limited, necessitating new tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate the Age-Inclusive Work Environment Instrument (AIWEI) as a measure of age inclusivity.
• To assess the reliability and validity of the AIWEI across different age groups.
• To examine the relationship between AIWEI factors and other workplace indicators.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional and multilevel data from 2,892 Swedish workers in 101 workplaces were collected via online survey.
• Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted across young, middle-aged, and older workers.
• Concurrent validity was evaluated using a nomological approach with Psychosocial Safety Climate, burnout, and engagement.

Main Results:

• Factor analyses supported a 3-factor model (inclusion, discrimination, development opportunities) for the AIWEI across all age groups.
• High Intraclass Coefficient (ICC) scores indicated consistent workplace perceptions.
• The AIWEI demonstrated concurrent validity by correlating with Psychosocial Safety Climate, burnout, and engagement.

Conclusions:

• The AIWEI is a validated instrument for measuring age-inclusive work environments for diverse workforces.
• Age inclusivity operates as both a shared organizational phenomenon and an individual experience.
• The AIWEI can inform the development of effective policies and strategies for benefiting workers and organizations.