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Idiosyncratic Deals for Older Workers: Increased Heterogeneity Among Older Workers Enhance the Need for I-Deals

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Aging Workers and the Employee-Employer Relationship

Abstract

This chapter discusses how idiosyncratic deals (I-deals) can be negotiated by older workers and their organizations to increase the motivation and performance of older workers. Because work-related preferences of older workers tend to be more heterogeneous than those of younger workers, I-deals are in particular suited to the needs and preference of older workers. More specifically flexibility and development I-deals can help older workers stay motivated and productive throughout their careers. I-deals are defined as the idiosyncratic agreements employees negotiate with their employer about their work arrangements. I-deals benefit both employee and organization, such that the employee obtains a better work-life balance, and is able to develop, while the organization benefits from higher productivity and retention of valuable employees. I-deals have been shown to be crucial in motivating employees to work beyond their retirement age. The chapter concludes with boundary conditions for the effects of I-deals on motivation, productivity and health, and suggestions for future research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, University of Bath, Bath, UK

    P. Matthijs Bal

  2. Department of Management and Organization, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Paul G. W. Jansen

Authors
  1. P. Matthijs Bal
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  2. Paul G. W. Jansen
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Correspondence to P. Matthijs Bal .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom

    P. Matthijs Bal

  2. Department of Human Resource Studies, University of Tilburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Dorien T.A.M. Kooij

  3. H. John Heinz III College, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Denise M. Rousseau

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Bal, P.M., Jansen, P.G.W. (2015). Idiosyncratic Deals for Older Workers: Increased Heterogeneity Among Older Workers Enhance the Need for I-Deals. In: Bal, P., Kooij, D., Rousseau, D. (eds) Aging Workers and the Employee-Employer Relationship. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08007-9_8

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