Finding the Right Work-Life Balance for Older Workers

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The idea of properly managing various aspects of life – work, family, and other responsibilities – is definitely appealing. However, the truth is that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to work-life balance, especially for older workers.

Comprising a third of the New Zealand workforce, older workers (aged 55 and older) are becoming an increasingly substantial part of the economy.

It can be tempting to consider everyone in this age group as the same. However, our new research indicates that this assumption is incorrect. In reality, the assistance older workers seek in order to attain better work-life balance can vary as they age.

Indeed, older workers’ lives can significantly differ in terms of employment, family structure, financial resources, time, and overall well-being.

As the number of older employees in the economy grows, it’s crucial to understand what would help maintain their job satisfaction as they prepare for and go beyond retirement age.

Anxiety, depression and older workers

The objective of our research was to gain a better understanding of how work-life balance affects job stress-related anxiety and depression among older workers.

We sought to answer two key questions: what is the impact of work-life balance on older employees? And are there discrepancies among worker groups?

We conducted a survey of 512 New Zealand workers across three different age brackets: 55-59 years, 60-64 years, and 65 and older. The respondents had an average job tenure of 12.6 years.

Of the participants, 58.2% worked in the private sector, 31.6% in the public/government sector, and 10.2% in the non-profit sector.

In terms of age, 43.8% fell into the 55–59 age group. Individuals nearing retirement age (60–64) made up 31.3% of respondents, while a further 25% were 65 and older—continuing to work despite being eligible for superannuation.

Work-life balance at different ages

The average work-life balance levels among older workers we studied were notably high, comparing favorably against similar studies examining other age segments. Those who reported high work-life balance levels stated that they could efficiently manage their work, family, and other responsibilities.

Job stress, job anxiety, and job depression can all impact job well-being. Job stress occurs when work demands exceed employee resources, job anxiety arises when the job is mentally stimulating but not enjoyable, and job depression occurs when there is little mental stimulation or enjoyment.

The 55–59 year-olds reported higher levels of job stress compared to older respondents. This age group reported juggling stress induced by high job demands, while also managing the needs of younger families, often including teenagers.

However, those who experienced less work-life balance-related stress in their jobs also reported lower levels of anxiety and depression.

The younger cohort (55–59 years) reported experiencing the most significant benefits from having work-life balance.

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