The journey to work – a barrier to older workers

According to the National Audit Office, transport difficulties are one of the barriers to employment experienced by people aged 50 plus. Huber and Skidmore suggest that “the happiest grannies are those who achieved a balance of caring and part-time work.” However, difficult conflicts may arise for older workers regarding work location, travel arrangements, mode of travel, family or caring commitments, and the need for leisure time and a well-earned degree of freedom and flexibility. The journey to work is being investigated as a part of “Working Late”, a 4-year collaborative research project funded by the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme. Following evidence from discussion groups with domain experts, employer representatives and older workers, a questionnaire survey was conducted, both online and paper based, to quantify the scale of the problem. More focussed interviews then contribute towards design solutions and strategies which will support personally sustainable travel and well-being, not just for older people but for all employees.