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Schoen Clinic UK Group has proudly joined the Age-friendly Employer Pledge, a national initiative by the Centre for Ageing Better that aims to foster inclusive workplaces for older workers through improved recruitment, retention, and development practices.
Recent findings commissioned by Ageing Better highlight the pressing need to combat ageism in the workplace. Over one in five (21%) UK adults aged 50+ reported regularly encountering ageist attitudes at work or during job applications since turning 50. Although 64% of those surveyed expressed comfort in reporting ageist behaviour, fewer than half (42%) felt confident that their complaints would be taken seriously.
With labour and skills shortages posing significant challenges for businesses—evidenced by over one million job vacancies in late 2022 to early 2023, according to the ONS—engaging and retaining older workers has become critical. An ageing population presents a unique opportunity for employers to leverage the wealth of skills, experience, and knowledge that older workers bring to the table.
By signing the Age-friendly Employer Pledge, Schoen Clinic UK Group has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting age inclusion within its workforce. This involves taking at least one tangible action each year to improve recruitment, management, and support for older workers. Additionally, the organisation will appoint a senior sponsor to advocate for age inclusivity and explicitly include age within its Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policies.
Schoen Clinic UK Group joins over 100 other employers in this initiative, including Virgin Hotels, Osborne Clarke, and the Department for Work and Pensions, all of whom are working to ensure older workers thrive in their careers.
A representative from Schoen Clinic UK Group, said: “Creating an inclusive and supportive workplace is at the heart of our values. Older workers bring invaluable skills, experience, and perspectives that enrich our teams and help us deliver exceptional care. By signing the Age-friendly Employer Pledge, we’re taking meaningful steps to ensure age inclusivity is an integral part of our culture.
Together, we aim to provide a workplace where colleagues of all ages feel valued and supported.”
Dr Carole Easton, Chief Executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said:“The pledge has been designed to support businesses to go on a journey at a pace that works for them. By taking manageable and measurable steps, employers will learn over time what steps they need to take to make the biggest difference in their own organisation.”
“The labour market is changing and employers are facing huge challenges with skills and labour shortages and near-record vacancy rates. Workers in their 50s and 60s are key to filling these gaps—now, more than ever, the older workforce is the workforce.
“And yet older workers are continuing to leave the labour market in droves. We want to help businesses understand how they can be attractive employers to older workers and reap the benefits of a multigenerational workforce.”
The Centre for Ageing Better offers comprehensive support to pledged employers, providing a detailed framework of recommended actions along with access to learning resources and webinars. Regular newsletters and progress reporting also ensure organisations can track and share their achievements while exchanging best practices with other members of the network.
Find a range of rewarding career opportunities across Schoen Clinic Group today.