Jennifer Moss’ new book ‘Why Are We Here’ is featured in a brief from Charter.

In her upcoming book *Why Are We Here?*, Jennifer Moss explores various workplace culture issues, with a particular focus on including and engaging older workers. Jennifer highlights research showing that nearly a third of individuals would continue working past age 70 if they had more flexible hours. She suggests implementing phased retirement options that allow older workers to gradually reduce their work hours, rather than facing the abrupt shift associated with traditional retirement. This approach helps employees transition smoothly into retirement, maintaining their involvement in the workforce without feeling overwhelmed.

Jennifer also shares several examples of companies already adopting strategies to support older workers. Unilever's U-work program offers employees the opportunity to reduce their hours and take on fewer projects while still receiving a retainer and some benefits like healthcare and pension contributions. Barclays and Humana both have specialized programs for older employees, with Barclays offering apprenticeship opportunities for individuals over 50 and Humana targeting retirees returning to the workforce. BMW has also re-engineered its production facilities to accommodate workers over 50 by improving lighting, ergonomics, and slowing down production lines.

In addition to such specific programs, Jennifer advocates for tailoring workplace perks to employees’ life stages, such as offering "grandternity" leave to spend time with new grandchildren or ensuring that exercise programs cater to both high- and low-impact needs, making the workplace more inclusive for older employees.