Working Longer Doesn't Make You Unhappy
9 May 2014
Read by 2911 persons
Working longer doesn't make you unhappy, according to a Swedish example where older workers seem happier than their Belgian colleagues, it was learned Tuesday thanks to a survey conducted by Delta Lloyd Life in both countries.
To ensure a viable pension system, the government wants to keep people working longer. But for the Belgian worker, the ideal pension age is 62, according to Delta Lloyd Life.
In Belgium, people work two more years compared to 10 years ago and the participation rate of those aged 50 and over has increased, but the difference with the Swedish model remains enormous.
While the Belgian has an average career of 32.2 years, the Swedish worker stays in office eight years longer. 65% of Swedish workers over 60 feel happy compared to 54% of Belgians.
A panel of experts from the labor market, including Fons Leroy from VDAB and Jo Libeer from Voka, have come to the same conclusions: working must again be seen positively and more emphasis must be placed on the content of the job.
"Much importance is attached in Belgium to external motivations such as credit time or additional leave for seniors, while internal motivating factors such as the content of the job or autonomy are decisive for someone who wants to work longer," explains Hilda Martens of Hasselt University.
In Belgium, the emphasis is particularly on working conditions such as salary, while Scandinavians place more importance on the content of the work, which offers them more pleasure in working.
Changing jobs, even for a lower salary, is not seen as a shame in these countries. There is less part-time work in Nordic countries, but people are much more trained. "Work pressure in Belgium is reflected in the number of hours worked, while in reality it is explained by other problems such as poor management or inappropriate job content," explains Fons Leroy.
The pension system is also much more transparent in Sweden. Each Swede is affiliated with a second pillar and receives detailed annual information on their pension rights. "If you want a higher pension, you can work longer," illustrates Peter Bailliere, head of human resources at Alfa Laval in Sweden. Stopping work prematurely therefore penalizes the future pension.
Each worker, from any sector, is treated fairly and exceptions such as early pensions do not exist, he points out.
Belga
Monargent.lecho.be
Published on May 6, 2014.
Posted online on May 9, 2014.
To ensure a viable pension system, the government wants to keep people working longer. But for the Belgian worker, the ideal pension age is 62, according to Delta Lloyd Life.
In Belgium, people work two more years compared to 10 years ago and the participation rate of those aged 50 and over has increased, but the difference with the Swedish model remains enormous.
While the Belgian has an average career of 32.2 years, the Swedish worker stays in office eight years longer. 65% of Swedish workers over 60 feel happy compared to 54% of Belgians.
A panel of experts from the labor market, including Fons Leroy from VDAB and Jo Libeer from Voka, have come to the same conclusions: working must again be seen positively and more emphasis must be placed on the content of the job.
"Much importance is attached in Belgium to external motivations such as credit time or additional leave for seniors, while internal motivating factors such as the content of the job or autonomy are decisive for someone who wants to work longer," explains Hilda Martens of Hasselt University.
In Belgium, the emphasis is particularly on working conditions such as salary, while Scandinavians place more importance on the content of the work, which offers them more pleasure in working.
Changing jobs, even for a lower salary, is not seen as a shame in these countries. There is less part-time work in Nordic countries, but people are much more trained. "Work pressure in Belgium is reflected in the number of hours worked, while in reality it is explained by other problems such as poor management or inappropriate job content," explains Fons Leroy.
The pension system is also much more transparent in Sweden. Each Swede is affiliated with a second pillar and receives detailed annual information on their pension rights. "If you want a higher pension, you can work longer," illustrates Peter Bailliere, head of human resources at Alfa Laval in Sweden. Stopping work prematurely therefore penalizes the future pension.
Each worker, from any sector, is treated fairly and exceptions such as early pensions do not exist, he points out.
Belga
Monargent.lecho.be
Published on May 6, 2014.
Posted online on May 9, 2014.
