PSY313 UNIT 3 LEC 2 Flashcards
What is one of the biggest determiners of unemployment rate?
Education level and years of education. Those with more education are more likely to be employed.
Do unemployment patterns differ across education levels?
No. While highly educated individuals are more likely to find work, the general pattern of unemployment is similar across education levels.
What trend has been seen among Canadians aged 65+ in the last 20 years?
A steady increase in the number of people 65+ who remain employed, especially among men.
What is the most important factor in the decision to retire?
Whether someone can afford to retire financially.
What is another major factor that determines if someone works past retirement age?
Job satisfaction. People who enjoy their jobs are more likely to continue working.
How does meaning in work affect retirement decisions?
If a person finds meaning in their work, they are more likely to keep working beyond retirement age.
Is age directly related to job satisfaction?
No. It used to be thought that older adults were more satisfied with work, but this is not supported by recent evidence.
How have job and career patterns changed over time?
People used to stay in one job or career for life. Now, it’s common to have multiple jobs and career changes.
What factor is more relevant to job satisfaction than age?
Job tenure—the number of years a person has worked in a specific job.
What tends to increase as job tenure increases?
Responsibility, autonomy, and income.
How is job satisfaction related to age, and why is that the case?
Job satisfaction tends to decline slightly with age, not because older adults actually dislike work more, but due to negative stereotypes in the workplace. These stereotypes influence how older workers are treated, which can lead to reduced motivation and engagement over time.
What common stereotypes exist about older workers, and are they accurate?
Older workers are often seen as forgetful, slow, easily distracted, and less productive. However, research shows very little evidence that older adults underperform compared to younger adults — these assumptions are mostly ageist myths.
Do older adults actually perform worse at work compared to younger adults?
No. On most tasks, older and younger workers perform similarly. Minor declines in memory or speed don’t affect everyday work until very old age. The one real exception is shift work, which disrupts older adults’ ability to adjust to irregular sleep schedules.
Why does shift work negatively affect older workers more than younger ones?
As we age, our biological rhythms become less flexible, making it harder to adapt to changing sleep and work schedules. This makes shift work particularly hard on older employees, sometimes leading to performance drops.
What are some strengths that older workers bring to a positive work culture?
Older workers are often better team players (organizational citizens) — they’re reliable, responsible, and contribute positively to the workplace environment. They’re also less likely to get injured because they tend to work more cautiously and follow safety procedures.
How do workplace stereotypes actually impact the performance of older employees?
When older workers are seen as “less capable,” they may be excluded from important or challenging tasks. This leads to a loss of confidence (self-efficacy), making them feel like their contributions don’t matter — and eventually, they may stop trying as hard.
What usually causes a drop in performance among older workers — aging or how they’re treated?
It’s usually how they’re treated. When older adults are given less responsibility due to stereotypes, their performance can decline over time. This shows that performance drops after responsibility is taken away, not before.
Why is 55 used as the age cut-off in Canadian workforce statistics about older workers?
Because while most people retire by 65, the age of 55+ is used to capture trends among older workers who may still be employed, especially part-time.
What are the main phases of retirement as a process?
Anticipatory period – you begin thinking about retirement
Decision to retire – you set a date and begin planning (finances, goals)
Immediate adjustment – dealing with the transition and new routine
Stable retirement – long-term settled lifestyle after adjustment
Why is retirement considered a “process” instead of a single event?
Because it involves mental, emotional, and lifestyle shifts over time—not just your last day at work. People must prepare financially and psychologically for this change.
: What is bridge employment, and how has its meaning evolved?
Bridge employment is when someone retires from their main job but then takes on a new job before fully stopping work.
In the past, people did this because they needed more money — they couldn’t afford to fully retire.
Now, some people choose bridge jobs because they want to stay busy, do something they enjoy, or try out a hobby-like job (like working at a golf course or craft shop) — not just for money.
What’s the most important factor in whether someone retires “on time”?
Money. Financial readiness determines if someone can retire, regardless of age or personal desire.
What is the significance of Canada’s 3-pillar pension system, and how does it reflect social values?
It’s a system designed to help Canadians have enough money to live on when they retire, especially as they get older and might not be working anymore. It’s made up of three sources of retirement income — that’s why it’s called a “3-pillar” system.
🧱 Pillar 1: Old Age Security (OAS)
What it is: A monthly payment from the government that most Canadians get when they turn 65.
Who gets it: You must have lived in Canada for at least 10 years after age 18.
Why it matters: It’s meant to give everyone a basic level of income in retirement, even if they didn’t work much.
🧠 Think of it as a “starter income” for seniors, just for being a Canadian resident.
🧱 Pillar 2: Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
What it is: An extra payment added on top of OAS for low-income seniors.
Who gets it: Seniors with very little income (like under $23,000/year).
Why it matters: It helps prevent poverty for seniors who don’t have savings or didn’t earn much during their working years.
🧠 Think of GIS as backup help — like extra support for those who are really struggling.
🧱 Pillar 3: Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
What it is: A retirement income based on how much you worked and paid into it during your job.
Who gets it: Anyone who worked in Canada and had money taken off their paycheck for CPP.
Why it matters: The more you worked and the higher your earnings, the more you get in retirement.
🧠 CPP is your “earned” pension — it rewards you for your work history.
💡 Why This System Is Important
It protects seniors from falling into poverty.
It balances fairness: Everyone gets some support (OAS), low-income seniors get extra help (GIS), and workers get back what they put in (CPP).
It reflects Canadian values of supporting people in old age, while also encouraging people to save and contribute during their working years.
How has the Old Age Security Act evolved, and why is it significant?
In 1927, OAS started as a program that gave money only to poor seniors who couldn’t support themselves — and only if their kids couldn’t help either. It was needs-based and even made families pay the money back after the senior passed away.
In 1952, the law changed so that all Canadians 65+ (who have lived in Canada at least 10 years) could get it — not just poor people. Now it’s a universal benefit, but it’s taxable.
It also includes the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for low-income seniors, which adds extra money to help those who are still struggling.
👉 Why it matters: OAS shows how Canada shifted from only helping the very poor to making sure all seniors have a basic income, while still encouraging people to save for retirement.
