On this joint podcast from MICRA and Alliance Manchester Business School a panel of experts will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on older workers.

Speakers:

Dr Sheena Johnson, Professor of Work Psychology and Wellbeing.

Sheena will give some brief background to how older workers are potentially disproportionately affected given their increased risk to Covid19, and consider what support employers can put in place to mitigate this. She will then outline what academic research can tell us about this and also outline what research is in progress / being planned.

Dr Emily Andrews, Senior Evidence Manager at Centre for Ageing Better:

Emily will discuss how the emerging picture of the impact of this recession on workers is u-shaped across the life course: the youngest workers being hit hardest, but the oldest (working-age) workers also seeing a substantial hit to their earnings and hours. Emily Andrews from the Centre for Ageing Better will present findings from new research produced in partnership with the Learning and Work Institute – on the impact of this recession on workers in their 50s and 60s, what we can learn from previous responses to unemployment among this age-group, and what needs to be done next to ensure that progress on 50+ employment does not go into reverse.

Dr Mat Ainsworth, Assistant Director – Employment (Policy, Strategy & Delivery) Greater Manchester Combined Authority:

Mat will talk about the work of the GM Ageing Hub on tackling labour market inequalities faced by older people; the risks and potential opportunities presented by Covid-19 and the launch of an innovative local pilot in partnership with Ageing Better and DWP.