Enterprise owners’ attitudes toward the hiring of older individuals
Öz
As in many countries, raising the retirement age in Türkiye, declining retirement incomes, and increasing life expectancy are making it necessary for older individuals to remain in the labor market for longer periods. However, enterprise owners' age-based prejudices in hiring decisions make it difficult for older individuals to participate in the workforce. This study, which draws on the theory of planned behavior, aims to reveal the dynamics that shape the perceptions and attitudes of micro and small enterprise owners regarding the hiring of individuals aged 55 and over—those approaching retirement age or who have reached retirement eligibility. In this study, semi-structured interviews conducted with enterprise owners were examined based on a thematic analysis approach. The findings reveal the diversity of enterprise owners’ attitudes toward the inclusion of older individuals in the workforce. More specifically, enterprise owners’ assessments of older individuals are based on their perceived abilities, and these assessments are shaped within a context where positive and negative attitudes toward their hiring intersect. The findings demonstrate the perceptions and attitudes that prevent older individuals from participating in the labor market without prejudice, thereby contributing to the development of social and organizational awareness aimed at enabling these individuals to participate more inclusively in working life. A significant portion of studies on age discrimination in the labor market have been examined in the context of large corporations. This study, however, approaches the subject from the perspective of micro and small enterprise owners, offering a unique contribution to the existing literature.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Etik Beyan
Kaynakça
- Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179-211. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
- Alonso, A. D., Nguyen, T. T., Vu, O. T. K., Tran, L. N., and Vu, G. H. (2026). Understanding knowledge’s impact on older hospitality workers: The past, present, and future. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 133, 104427. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2025.104427
- Armstrong-Stassen, M., and Schlosser, F. (2008). Benefits of a supportive development climate for older workers. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 23(4), 419-437. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940810869033
- Axelrad, H., Luski, I., and Miki, M. (2013). Difficulties of integrating older workers into the labor market: Exploring the Israeli labor market. International Journal of Social Economics, 40(12), 1058-1076. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-12-2011-0098
- Baert, S., Norga, J., Thuy, Y., and Van Hecke, M. (2016). Getting grey hairs in the labour market. An alternative experiment on age discrimination. Journal of Economic Psychology, 57, 86-101. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2016.10.002
- Batinovic, L., Howe, M., Sinclair, S., and Carlsson, R. (2023). Ageism in hiring: A systematic review and meta-analysis of age discrimination. Collabra: Psychology, 9(1), 82194. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.82194
- Bellotti, L., Zaniboni, S., Balducci, C., Menghini, L., Cadiz, D. M., and Toderi, S. (2022). Age diversity climate affecting individual-level work-related outcomes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), 3041. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19053041
- Billett, S., Dymock, D., Johnson, G., and Martin, G. (2011). Last resort employees: older workers' perceptions of workplace discrimination. Human Resource Development International, 14(4), 375-389. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/13678868.2011.601571
Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Strateji, Yönetim ve Örgütsel Davranış (Diğer)
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yazarlar
Benan Gök
*
0000-0002-3817-2508
The Netherlands
Yayımlanma Tarihi
28 Şubat 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
24 Aralık 2025
Kabul Tarihi
6 Şubat 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 12 Sayı: 1