Title of the practice |
Sensitisation of employers and policy makers for demographic change. |
Precise theme/issue tackled by the practice |
Demographic change has already begun to effect businesses in the Italian Abruzzo region. Like in the rest of the country, employees are however expected to take the chances of early retirement and the activity rate of older persons remains very low. On the other hand, the region suffers from a lack of skilled (young) labour but businesses hesitate to continue to employ elderly persons. |
Objectives of the practice |
Convince businesses and employees to voluntarily remain actively in the labour market beyond the age of 50. |
Location |
Abruzzo region, Italy |
Detailed description of the practice |
In Abruzzo, F4W was realised in a partnership between the regional government, the University of L’Aquila, an organisation to offer coaching to businesses (ANAPIA) and the region’s labour service. Using the advantage of the university’s scientific resources, the partners decided to address regional businesses with a two-folded approach. On one hand, seminars would take place at the university to teach the effects of demographic change and how businesses can reduce its effects. In a second step, staff of ANAPIA worked with the businesses individually. The realisation became possible as the regional gov’t had convinced the region’s two biggest businesses to join the approach and to lead the way. Smaller businesses became involved when they realised that major enterprises agreed to participate. |
Evaluation |
A number of businesses received training how to adapt to demographic change, e.g. by using their older staff as mentors. At the same time, businesses were taught about the specific requirements of elderly persons who in turn received a training to avoid age-related diseases. |
Lessons learnt from the practice |
Scientific approach to demographic change, combination of organisation management for employers and health training for employees, two-step approach (seminars, individual coaching to implement seminar learning). |
Relevant factors/conditions for the transfer of the good practice |
The cooperation with experts from University is the condition for a successful transfer since the environment cannot be reduced to a scheme but needs a targeted study for finding the right solutions. |
Implementing organisations |
Regione Abruzzo through the "Ufficio informazione, promozione e progettazione comunitaria" della "Direzione degli affari della Presidenza" |
Contact information |
FIT 4 WORK Regione Abruzzo L’Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy eurostaff@regione.abruzzo.it  |
Other possible interesting information |
www.fit4work-project.org |