mature age workers’ intention to leave aged care
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Mature age workers’ intention to leave aged care. G Lewin , S Austen, T Jefferson, R Ong and R Sharp. Background. Population ageing threatens labour supply Need to encourage workforce participation at all ages Women workers 45+ missing in analyses A growing demographic - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
G Lewin, S Austen, T Jefferson, R Ong and R Sharp
Mature age workers’intention to leave aged care
28.11.2013
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Background
Population ageing threatens labour supply
Need to encourage workforce participation at all ages
Women workers 45+ missing in analyses
A growing demographic
Potential to increase participation
Need to understand their employment decisions
Aged care workers a case study28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Research Objectives
What are the key factors influencing older womens’ decisions to maintain or leave employment in the aged care sector?
How do mature age womens’ paid and unpaid roles and circumstances interact to determine their ability/willingness to remain in paid work in the aged care sector?
What are the implications for policy on the retention of mature age women in Australia’s aged care sector?
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Study Phases
Phase 1: Analysis of HILDA data in relation to older womens’ employment transitions
Phase 2: Survey of older women in aged care re. employment plans
Phase 3: Re-survey same workers 12 months later
Phase 4: Conduct interviews with diverse sample of workers
Phase 5: Analyse data and use to refine economic models of employment decision making
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Survey Method
Survey based on UK “NEXT” survey of nurses
Long, so professionally designed
19 Aged Care providers recruited
6867 surveys sent to direct care workers 45+
Year 1, 2850 paper surveys completed ( + 1095 electronic)
Year 2, 2349 surveys completed (2138 stayers, 211 leavers)
989 in year 2 had not responded in year 128.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Survey 1 Respondent Ages
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
45 to 49 50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 64 65 to 69 70 to 74 75 to 800
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Survey Respondents – Demographics
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Survey 1
Survey 2Stayers
Survey2Leavers
Living SituationNot with partner 32.6% 30.1% 28.8%
With partner 67.4% 69.9% 71.2%
Dependent children living at home
Yes 30.1% 25.3% 23.6%
No 69.9% 74.7% 76.4%
Self-rated healthPoor/fair 4.4% 11.8% 20.4%
Good/v.good/excellent 95.6% 89.2% 79.6%
Current contract in aged care
Permanent 81.3% 80.0%
Casual 18.7% 20.0%
Economic situation
Very strained/strained 24.5% 21.8% 28.2%
Neither good/bad 37.0% 39.1% 27.1%
Good/very good 38.5% 39.1% 44.7%
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Thinking of Leaving
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Response Year 1 Year 2 Stayers
No 52.6 49.0
Can’t say 4.0 3.6
Yes 43.4 47.4
Total 100.0 100.0
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Main Reasons Thinking of Leaving - surveys 1+2
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Care fo
r a fa
mily or fr
iend
Plan to co
mpletely
retire
Wan
t an ex
tended b
reak
Dissati
s dire
ction
aged c
are
Physica
l demand
s too h
igh
Mental d
eman
ds to
o high
Emotional
demand
s too
high
Dissati
sfied w
ith p
ay
No oppo
rtunit
ies
Poor man
agem
ent or p
ractic
e
Unsatis
. hou
rs or s
hifts
Aged ca
re no
t valu
ed
Lost
intere
st in
the wor
k0
5
10
15
20
25
30
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Physical workability and Health
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
poor fair good very good excellent0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
100.00%
Self-Rated Health
%ag
e w
ith g
ood/
v.go
od a
bilit
y to
cop
e w
ith p
hysi
cal d
eman
ds
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Physical Workability and Age
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Age
%ag
e w
ith g
ood/
v.go
od a
bilit
y to
cop
e w
ith p
hysi
cal d
eman
ds
45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-7070.00%
72.00%
74.00%
76.00%
78.00%
80.00%
82.00%
84.00%Majority of re-spondents in these age groups
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Level of Pay Satisfaction
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
38.1%
7.5%
54.5%
Highly7.5
Survey 1 Survey 2
35.9%
57.6%
6.5%
not at allmoderatelyhighly
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Pay satisfaction and Thoughts of leaving
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
not at all moderately highly0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Survey 1Survey 2
not at all moderately highly0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
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Sources of pay dissatisfaction
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Your need for income
Importance to society
Demands of job
Skills needed
Job security0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Percentage not at all satisfied with pay when asked to consider:
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Survey 2 Leavers- Factors important
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
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Stayers: most positive changes to working conditions in last 12 months
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Better staffing levels 14.2%
Improved management 17.4%
Better role/changed sectors 4.8%
Improved equipment /physical environment 11.2%
Increased pay 5.1%
More training +/role change 8.1%
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Leavers –would any changes have encouraged you to stay? ‘Yes’ - 50.8%
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Change in role/ incr. responsibility/ training, less paperwork, more care
11.3%
Improved management practices 28.0%
Lower physical or mental demands 4.7%Better staff 12.0%
More hours or better pay 16.0%
Better shifts, more stability 6.7%
Reduced workload, increased staff ratios 17.3%
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Leavers – some quotes
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
‘An extra staff member on night shift ……’‘Ratio of patients, clients, residents per nurse needs to be reviewed..’‘Proprietors should be required to put money - a certain amount back into the facility to maintain and update equipment’
‘If the management was patient until my health condition was rectified…’‘If I had been given the opportunity to do office work after worker’s comp…..’
More staff, better equipment
Greater role flexibility
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Summary
“Work is very physical, mentally demanding and not paid
well. If the changes are made in this area would be more
good carers” – Survey respondent Issue is multifaceted Potential strategies include: investing in better equipment,
improved staff ratios, opportunities for less demanding work when illness or injury occurs, recruiting workers to be fit and healthy; and, increasing wages.
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care
Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J
Acknowledgements
My research colleagues for inviting me on the team
ARC for their Discovery Grant Funding
Aged Care Providers for agreeing to send out surveys
ANF for hosting electronic survey and advertising to members
Survey respondents and interviewees
28.11.2013Mature Age Workers’ intention to leave aged care