Despite there being many compelling arguments for why age should be related to work performance (e.g., younger employees may have less experience), there is little evidence that such a relationship exists (except that older employees tend to engage in more organizational citizenship behavior, or going the extra mile). According to new research (Zacher et al., 2010), these null findings may be due to several competing factors, which sometimes lead older employees to outperform younger employees, or vice versa.
THE RESEARCH STUDY
In this study, the researchers explored an individual difference known as focus on opportunities, which refers to employee perceptions of the availability of future work-related options and opportunities. The authors found that older employees tend to have a weaker focus on opportunities than younger employees, possibly because older employees receive less career support and are more focused on retirement than future work-related opportunities. As the researchers hypothesized, focus on opportunities is related to overall work performance (as rated by study participants’ coworkers) and helps explain why younger workers might outperform their older colleagues.
Based on these findings, it appears that older employees have bleaker outlooks on their work-related futures and their work performance may suffer as a result. However, the researchers found that employees working in complex jobs tend to have a stronger focus on opportunities than employees working in less complex jobs. Job complexity seems to be particularly important for older employees since it helps them maintain a strong focus on opportunities.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The authors conclude by arguing that, while job complexity is important for employees at all ages, it is particularly vital for older employees. Presenting older employees with challenges at work, such as formal mentoring roles, can help them maintain their focus on work-related opportunities and keep their work performance high.
Zacher, H., Heusner, S., Schmitz, M., Zwierzanska, M.M., & Frese, M. (2010). Focus on opportunities as a mediator of the relationships between age, job complexity and work performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 76, 374-386.
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