Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Articles
VIEWS: 128
Published: 2020-07-31

Working Beyond 80: The Meaning of Work to An Octogenarian in The Workforce

College of Nursing, Cebu Normal University, Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu 6000
College of Nursing, Cebu Normal University, Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu 6000
Center for Research and Development, Cebu Normal University, Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu 6000
aging gerontology labor octogenarian workforce

Abstract

There is an increasing share of people aged 50 years and over in the labor market structure and the rapid aging of the global workforce that supports the latter claim but with a little tank of information on qualitative research describing the experiences of a working octogenarian. An octogenarian is a person who is between 80 and 89 years old. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of a working octogenarian in her fieldwork through a qualitative case study analysis. From the interview, the following three themes were revealed: (a) Work as a legacy, (b) Work as an advocacy, and (c) Work as an opportunity. In the first theme, the participant described that she had a laden path and a mission. These had been sustained along with the desire to serve and make a difference. In work as advocacy, she presented the vision to make the lives of the elderly better by making the environment compatible with her aspiration extending beyond the confines of her organization. Considering every work that she took part in as an opportunity to explore and further her vision was the very core of the theme “work as an opportunity.” Working beyond 80 years old becomes possible when one dedicates the undertakings in the fulfillment of the individual’s vision and mission.

 

Abstrak

Bekerja di Atas Usia 80: Sebuah Studi Kasus Kualitatif tentang Arti Bekerja bagi Seorang Tenaga Kerja Octogenarian. Terdapat peningkatan jumlah orang yang berusia 50 tahun ke atas dalam struktur pasar tenaga kerja dan penuaan dini dari tenaga kerja global yang mendukung klaim terakhir, namun masih sedikit informasi tentang penelitian kualitatif yang menggambarkan pengalaman seorang oktogenarian yang bekerja. Seorang octogenarian adalah orang yang berusia antara 80 dan 89 tahun. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menyelidiki pengalaman seorang oktogenarian yang bekerja pada lapangan kerjanya melalui analisis studi kasus kualitatif. Berdasarkan wawancara, tiga tema berikut terungkap: (a) Bekerja sebagai warisan, (b) Bekerja sebagai advokasi, dan (c) Bekerja sebagai peluang. Pada tema pertama, peserta menggambarkan bahwa dia memiliki jalan yang sarat dan misi. Hal ini telah dipertahankan dengan keinginan untuk melayani dan membuat perbedaan. Pada tema bekerja sebagai advokasi, ia mempresentasikan visi untuk membuat kehidupan lansia menjadi lebih baik dengan membuat lingkungan yang sesuai dengan aspirasinya melampaui batas organisasinya. Mempertimbangkan setiap pekerjaan yang ia ambil sebagai kesempatan untuk mengeksplorasi dan memajukan visinya adalah inti dari tema “bekerja sebagai sebuah peluang.” Bekerja lebih dari 80 tahun sangat mungkin ketika seseorang mendedikasikan upaya dalam pencapaian visi dan misi individu.

Kata kunci: aging, gerontologi, octogenarian, pekerja, tenaga kerja

References

  1. Antoniou, A.S., Burke, R.J., & Cooper, C.L. (2017). The aging workforce handbook: Individual, organizational and societal challenges. United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing.
  2. Baxter, P., & Jack, S. (2008). Qualitative case study methodology: Study design and implementation for novice researchers. The Qualitative Report, 13 (4), 544–559.
  3. Bersin, J., & Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2019, September 26). The case for hiring older workers. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/09/the-case-for-hiring-older-workers.
  4. Brooks, R. (2020, June 15). Never retire: Why people are still working in their 70s and 80s. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/second-careers/articles/never-retire-why-people-are-still-working-in-their-70s-and-80s.
  5. Burtless, G. (2013, May 31). The impact of population aging and delayed retirement on workforce productivity (Working Paper No. 2013-11). Chestnut Hill, MA: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Retrieved from https://crr.bc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/wp_2013-111.pdf.
  6. Garcia, L.L. (2013). Readiness for retirement: A theory development approach. CNU Journal of higher Education, 7, 45–54.
  7. Garcia, L.L. (2018). Re-storying the lives of famous individuals: A narrative inquiry. The Malaysian Journal of Nursing, 10 (1), 42–48. doi: 10.31674/mjn.2018.v10i01.006.
  8. Garcia, L.L. (2019). Walking through a successful life: A case study. Naresuan University Journal: Science and Technology, 27 (4), 87–97. https://doi.org/10.14456/nujst.2019.39.
  9. Garcia, L.L. (2020). Progression towards psychosocial well-being in old age. Cogent Social Sciences, 6 (1), 1738152. doi: 10.1080/23311886.2020.1738152.
  10. Gordon F., & Shea, A.H. (2006). The older worker advantage: Making the most of our aging workforce. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.
  11. Gorvett, Z. (2019, November 15). How elders can reinvigorate the workforce. BBC: 100 Year Life. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20191112-how-the-elderly-can-reinvigorate-the-workforce.
  12. Irving, J. (2017, April 27). Age discrimination in the workplace happening to people as young as 45: Study. The Conversation. Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/age-discrimination-in-the-workplace-happening-to-people-as-young-as-45-study-76095.
  13. Katz, S., & Calasanti, T. (2015). Critical perspectives on successful aging: Does it “appeal more than it illuminates?” The Gerontologist, 55 (1), 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu027
  14. Lincoln, Y., & Guba, E. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
  15. Lorenzen, R. (2017, December 6). Habits of successful people. Huffpost. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-lorenzen/habits-of-successful-peop_b_8045084.html.
  16. Lu, L. (2012). Attitudes towards aging and older people’s intentions to continue working: A Taiwanese study. Career Development International, 17 (1), 83–98. doi: 10.1108/13620431211201346.
  17. McIntyre, D.A. (2010, January 21). The octogenarian workforce. 24/7 Wall St. Retrieved from http://247wallst.com/econo my/2010/01/21/the-octogenarian-workforce/
  18. Mellinger, M. S. (2017). What drives advocacy? An exploration of value, mission, and relationships. Journal of Policy Practice, 16 (2), 147–165. https://doi.org/10.1080/15588742.2016.1214860.
  19. Nilsson, K., Östergren, P.O., Kadefors, R., & Albin, M. (2016). Has the participation of older employees in the workforce increased? Study of the total Swedish population regarding exit from working life. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 44 (5), 506–516. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494816637262.
  20. Oshio, T., Usui, E., & Shimizutani, S. (2018, May). Labor force participation of the elderly in Japan. (Working Paper No. 24614). Cambridge, MA: The National Bureau of Economic Research.
  21. Radović-Marković, M. (2013, May 17). An aging workforce: employment opportunities and obstacle. Cadmus, 1 (6 pt. 3). Retrieved from http://cadmusjournal.org/node/312.
  22. Sewdas, R., de Wind, A., van der Zwaan, L.G.L., van der Borg, W.E., Steenbeek, R., van der Beek, A.J., & Boot, C.R.L. (2017). Why older workers work beyond the retirement age: A qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 17, 672. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4675-z.
  23. Snowdon, G. (2012, January 16). Young and older people ‘experience age discrimination at work. The Guardian. Retrieved from https:// www.theguardian.com/money/2012/jan/16/young-older-people-age-discrimination-work.
  24. Ulrich, L.B. (2003). Older workers and bridge employment: An exploratory study. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/26503.

How to Cite

Lapa, M. M. I. M., Garcia, L. L., & Nemenzo, E. P. (2020). Working Beyond 80: The Meaning of Work to An Octogenarian in The Workforce. Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia, 23(2), 145–154. https://doi.org/10.7454/jki.v23i2.985