The Role of Older Adults in the Workplace - An Ageist Series (3 of 3)

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Aug 2024
CPHR Alberta
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A network of people connected by lines on a gray background.

Author : Manley Osbak 

Ageist stereotypes are a fallacy, not only because they mischaracterize people, but because they obscure the underlying concern of competition that is the principal motivation behind such stereotypes. Common approaches to combatting ageism are paradoxically ageist themselves, as they often emphasize egalitarian motives rather than acknowledging the social capital that older adults bring to the workplace. Older adults enhance workplace functionality by balancing competitive and cooperative values, and they play a crucial role in developing others organically through intergenerational exchange and citizenship behaviour. Considering the ongoing demographic shift, and the inevitability of aging, it’s imperative that we understand and incorporate the strengths that older adults bring to the workplace.

Life is a continuous process of loss and gain. As we progress through different stages of life, our resources continually evolve, prompting us to modify our goals while minimizing losses and maximizing gains. According to the selection, optimization, and compensation model of adult development, loss is experienced throughout our lives, but so is gain. While egalitarian arguments promote a polite response to the losses, they fail to recognize and leverage the gains. 

Erik Erikson, a prominent 20th-century psychoanalyst, created a theory of life-span development that comprised of eight (later nine) stages. The seventh stage, which Erickson considered the key development of adulthood, was characterized by generative action. Generative acts are those that create, maintain, and offer benefits for the next generation, nurture individuals, and produce outcomes with communal benefits. These actions serve to enable, promote, establish, guide, and contribute through conservation, restoration, preservation, cultivation, and maintenance. Generative acts also preserve cultural continuity over time by enacting rituals, linking generations, and ensuring cultural continuity.

Generativity reflects a fundamental optimism about human potential. It is rooted in hope, a psychosocial strength that originates from the earliest of Erikson’s developmental stages. The concept of generativity incorporates the strength of fidelity, which develops in healthy adolescent growth. In the generative stage, the strength of care comes to the foreground, reflecting the capacity to care for what a person has learned to care about. With hope understood as an expectant desire, fidelity as commitment, and care as the dedication to nurture, the foundations of generative action are grounded in belief, commitment, and concern, making it emotionally significant.

Erikson associated the rise of generativity with the onset of middle adulthood. This association intriguingly aligns with the findings of Stanford psychologist Laura Carstensen, who noted a substantial increase in the importance that adults place on socioemotional information and emotionally salient outcomes in mid-life. Similarly, Canadian labour statistics for 2022 reveal a 31% drop in labour force participation among individuals aged 55 to 65. While some may attribute this trend to early retirement, we know that people remain in workplaces that reflect their values. The 31% drop in Canadian labour suggests a profound misalignment between the values of mid-life adults and prevailing workplace values.

If the workplace emphasizes instrumentality and assesses the value of people based solely on their immediate contributions to instrumental outcomes, it becomes clear that these workplace values would not align with the generative values of older adults. Older adults, experiencing a shift in priorities towards generativity and socioemotional goals, may find such environments unfulfilling or even alienating. This disconnect can contribute significantly to their withdrawal from the labour market. Recognizing and addressing this misalignment is crucial to fostering a workplace that is not only inclusive – but is strategically inclusive for a purpose.

Creating a workplace that is more inclusive of older workers should not be viewed as an expression of egalitarian ideals, but rather as a recognition of the strategically valuable strengths that older workers add to the social capital of the organization. The generative interests of older adults exemplify a communal orientation, focused on contributing to the development of others and enhancing the social context that underpins human development. It is crucial to understand that unmitigated instrumentalism is not conducive to sustainable and scalable production. Sustainability and scalability can only be achieved when instrumental and competitive values are balanced by constitutive and cooperative values because the resulting balance permits the social structures that promote individual growth and commitment.

Our objective is not merely to be more inclusive. Our objective is to be more effective. To do so, we have to move beyond the unconscious primordial concerns expressed in ageist stereotypes, transcend the toxicity of unmitigated instrumentalism, and fully recognize the generative value of the social dimension within the workplace. It’s essential to understand the role of older adults and generative action in developing social capital and transmitting value across this social dimension. Creating an age inclusive space doesn’t mean simply adjusting to the presence of older adults, it means actively leveraging their unique contributions to foster a more dynamic, sustainable, and productive work environment. By doing so, we can transform our workplaces into functional communities that utilize the full spectrum of human potential and drive collective progress.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.

Manley Osbak is a Workforce Development Specialist with Work Locomotion where he leads the development and delivery of supervisor training. As a Certified Training and Development Professional with over 25 years of experience in the energy, construction, and manufacturing sectors, Manley focuses on helping supervisors master their roles in an increasingly complex operating environment. Having authored and coauthored numerous journal papers and trade magazine articles, Manley is well known for his investigative approach and crisp delivery. Connect with him on LinkedIn and access his current work on worklocomotion.Substack.com.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post belong solely to the original author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of CPHR Alberta.



Mental Health in the Agriculture Industry

By Jessica Jaithoo • August 8, 2025
Author : Nicole Mahieux, Nick Canning & Kendal Tremblay Mental health is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of employee well-being, business resilience and community strength. For HR professionals, supporting mental health is no longer optional—it’s imperative. While conversations around mental health have gained traction in many industries, one critical sector still faces unique and persistent challenges: agriculture. Farmers and agricultural workers play a vital role in food production and national food security. Yet they are among the most vulnerable when it comes to mental health struggles. In fact, they experience some of the highest rates of stress, anxiety, depression—and even suicide. This is not just a personal issue. It's a workforce issue. It's a public health issue. It's a business issue. There are a range of compounding pressures makes farming one of the most mentally taxing professions.  These include: 1.Financial Stress & Unpredictability Unstable markets, weather-dependent outcomes, and shifting government policies contribute to a constant sense of economic uncertainty. 2. Isolation Many farmers work alone and live in rural areas where access to social support is limited. Social isolation increases vulnerability to mental health concerns. 3. Stigma Although mental health stigma is slowly decreasing, it remains a barrier—especially among men, who represent 74% of the agricultural workforce. Traditional gender norms often discourage open conversations or help-seeking.

CPHR Alberta’s Commitment to Supporting Reservists

By Jessica Jaithoo • August 7, 2025
As a proud participant in the Glowing Hearts program , CPHR Alberta continues to champion the value that Canadian Armed Forces reservists bring to our workplaces. Since joining the program, we’ve seen firsthand how supporting reservists not only strengthens our communities but also enhances organizational resilience and leadership. The Value of Reservists in the Workplace Reservists are more than military personnel—they are strategic thinkers, adaptable leaders, and skilled collaborators. Their training equips them with discipline, problem-solving abilities, and a mission-focused mindset that translates seamlessly into civilian roles. Captain McKenzie Kibler of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment exemplifies this. In a recent deployment on Operation REASSURANCE, he developed leadership and operational skills that now enrich his civilian career. Watch his story here. Support, Recognition, and Incentives for Employers Supporting reservists doesn’t mean sacrificing business continuity—in fact, it opens the door to meaningful recognition and financial support. Through the Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program (CERP) , employers can receive grants to help offset operational costs when a reservist-employee is away for 30 days or more. At the same time, organizations that register their reservist leave policies with the Glowing Hearts program are publicly recognized on the Canadian Forces Liaison Council website and receive a certificate of support and digital badge. These benefits not only ease the logistical challenges of supporting reservists but also position your organization as a leader in community engagement and national service. Tools and Templates for HR Leaders To make it easier for organizations to support reservists, CPHR Alberta offers a Reservist Leave Policy Template. This resource outlines eligibility, leave procedures, compensation, and compliance with federal and provincial legislation—making it simple to implement a supportive policy. Access the template through the Member Portal.

Leadership Risk Isn't Just a C-Suite Concern

By Marina Perkovic • July 29, 2025
Companies that invest in leadership development see real returns. According to Brandon Hall Group, organizations with strong leadership development programs are 1.5 times more likely to be financially high-performing, reinforcing the clear connection between leadership strength and business success (Brandon Hall Group, 2015). For small to mid-sized businesses, this risk can be especially high. As teams expand and complexity increases, the informal leadership structures that worked early on can start to crack. That’s where proactive leadership development and risk mitigation go hand-in-hand. The Leadership Gap Is a Hidden Business Risk According to a recent CPHR Alberta report, talent development and leadership gaps remain one of the top five organizational risks (CPHR Alberta, 2023). The consequences are rarely immediate, but they compound over time: • Missed growth opportunities • High-potential employees leaving due to lack of career clarity • Poor team morale when unprepared managers struggle to lead • Strategic drift from lack of alignment at the top A growing company without a leadership pipeline is like a car without a spare tire, it might keep rolling, but one unexpected bump can send the whole operation into a tailspin. Risk Mitigation Starts with Leadership Insight The first step in mitigating leadership risk is to move from guesswork to clarity. That means using structured tools like leadership assessments, succession planning frameworks, and targeted coaching to surface the actual capabilities of current and emerging leaders. In professional services firms, for example, it’s common to see technically strong employees promoted into management roles. While they excel in their areas of expertise, they often lack key leadership capabilities like delegation, feedback, and emotional intelligence (Gallo, 2016). Without proper development, this can lead to stalled projects, disengaged teams, and higher turnover. Leadership assessments and focused coaching are essential to identify these gaps early and build the skills needed to lead effectively. Common Leadership Risks in SMBs Every organization faces different risks, but these are some of the most common leadership vulnerabilities seen in growth-stage companies (SHRM, 2022): • Lack of succession planning: Only one person knows how to run a key function, creating bottlenecks and burnout. • Unclear decision-making authority: Teams waste time waiting for approvals or duplicating efforts due to ambiguous roles. • Promotion without preparation: High performers are promoted into leadership roles without training, leading to micromanagement or misalignment. • Poor feedback culture: A lack of honest dialogue means small issues snowball into bigger people problems. • Leadership misfit: A leader’s natural style may clash with the culture or needs of a specific team or situation. Mitigating these risks requires more than a one-time workshop. It takes intentional development, structured tools, and reinforcement over time (SHRM, 2022). What Effective Mitigation Looks Like The most successful companies don’t wait for a leadership crisis to take action. They build leadership strength proactively. Here’s what that looks like: • Leadership assessments are used during hiring and promotions to identify fit, style, and potential blind spots. • Customized coaching programs help leaders build the exact skills they need in real time, tied to their actual challenges (International Coaching Federation, 2022). • Leadership training cohorts (such as PowerUp Leadership’s “Coaching Skills for Managers” or “Authentic Leadership” programs) create a shared foundation across the organization. • Succession maps identify who is ready or could be ready for key roles in 12–24 months, creating a proactive development plan (SHRM, 2022). As companies grow, the complexity of people management increases exponentially. Systems, tools, and strategy all matter but none of them work without effective leadership behind them (McKinsey & Company, 2018). Investing in leadership development isn’t a “nice to have” for big companies, it’s a risk management strategy for every business serious about sustainable growth. 
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