New NICE guidance on protecting older workers’ health issued

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published updated draft guideline on workplace policy and practices to help improve the health and wellbeing of older employees.

New recommendations that support the health and wellbeing of employees aged over 50, including steps to extend their working lives, have been included in the draft guidance, which will now be subject to consultation.

For example, employers, managers and HR teams have been called upon to treat each employee as an individual and avoid making stereotypical assumptions, with older employees to be offered training to stay in work should their job role change.

Such training programmes should be tailored to meet individual needs, learning style and ability, while broad diversity policies should be employed that recognise key life stages and events for workers for all ages.

Professor Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive and health and social care director at NICE, said: "It is important that the health and wellbeing of all employees, including those over 50, is promoted and protected."

The proportion of people aged 50 to 64 in employment has increased from 62 percent in 2001 to 67 percent in 2013. By 2020, it is predicted that older people will account for 32 percent of the working-age population.