Multigenerational Workforces and the Public Policy Context

In this chapter, we introduce the legislative provisions or public policies that provide the context in which organisations operate and which underpin the development of policies at the organisational level. We argue these public policies have to date focused on raising workforce participation rates of older workers or assisting with the care responsibilities of workers in the parenting years. However, they have not been adequately cognisant of intersections between age, gender and the provision of unpaid care. This is because to date, public policies to boost women’s labour force participation have focused largely on women of childbearing age. Public policies addressing older workers’ care responsibilities have been somewhat neglected. This has resulted in inadequate workplace regulation for those engaging in caring in later life. The chapter explores why older workers’ informal care responsibilities are less visible in public policy. Public policies relating to older workers can be broadly divided into two groups – those that focus on labour market participation rates and exit, such as retirement incomes systems and labour market policies, and those that focus on balancing work and care in later life, such as carer’s leave, flexible work arrangements and care services. The first category is a much greater focus of public policymaking in the area of older workers.