ERIC Number: ED215286
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1981
Pages: 40
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Aging and Work Organizations.
Schrank, Harris T.; Waring, Joan M.
Business firms are an integral part of the age stratification structure of society. Although the age structures of people and roles within the organization are dynamic, these structures yield a fairly stable strata in which norms exist to suggest the various roles expected of certain persons. Those in roles with greater financial rewards, power, and prestige tend to be older. This is true, not only because age suggests knowledge and experience, but also because such a system provides motivation for younger workers to improve performances and stay with one company. Furthermore, older members in the top ranks also ensure turnover in the top ranks. Several organizational practices, such as career paths, serve to maintain the age stratification system. Three observations can be made about formal organizations and the aging process, i.e.,: (1) several kinds of individual aging take place within an organization; (2) aging is a form of automatic mobility; and (3) work organizations need a continual replenishment of the ranks in order to survive. The study of the aging individual cohort and of the succession of cohorts is needed to further the understanding of organizational processes and aging. (NRB)
Publication Type: Information Analyses; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: White House Conference on Aging, Washington, DC.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A