IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/woemps/v38y2024i4p1148-1171.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Ambivalent Bias at Work: Managers’ Perceptions of Older Workers across Organizational Contexts

Author

Listed:
  • Hila Axelrad

    (Reichman University, Israel)

  • Alexandra Kalev

    (Tel Aviv University, Israel)

  • Noah Lewin-Epstein

    (Tel Aviv University, Israel)

Abstract

Managerial bias is a major source of workplace inequality and a central target of employer diversity efforts, yet we know little about the content of stereotypes and where they prevail. Stereotypes can be ambivalent, mixing negative and positive dimensions. Ambivalent stereotypes can rationalize discriminatory decision-making but they may also be more amenable to change. This article examines the prevalence of wholly negative and ambivalent age-based stereotypes across organizational contexts. Data on 551 managers reveals, first, that the modal manager holds ambivalent stereotypes about older workers, with positive perceptions of their personal attributes and negative perceptions regarding their employability. Second, both negative and ambivalent stereotypes are common in the presence of a labour union. Their prevalence declines, however, in different contexts: ambivalent stereotypes decline with increased intergroup contact and negative stereotypes decline when accountability triggers are implmented. Implications for research on work, organizations, older workers, and diversity management are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Hila Axelrad & Alexandra Kalev & Noah Lewin-Epstein, 2024. "Ambivalent Bias at Work: Managers’ Perceptions of Older Workers across Organizational Contexts," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 38(4), pages 1148-1171, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:38:y:2024:i:4:p:1148-1171
    DOI: 10.1177/09500170231175790
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09500170231175790
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/09500170231175790?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hila Axelrad & Israel Luski & Malul Miki, 2013. "Difficulties of integrating older workers into the labor market: exploring the Israeli labor market," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 40(12), pages 1058-1076, October.
    2. Katharine G. Abraham & James L. Medoff, 1985. "Length of Service and Promotions in Union and Nonunion Work Groups," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 38(3), pages 408-420, April.
    3. Jesus Canduela & Matthew Dutton & Steve Johnson & Colin Lindsay & Ronald W McQuaid & Robert Raeside, 2012. "Ageing, skills and participation in work-related training in Britain: assessing the position of older workers," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 26(1), pages 42-60, February.
    4. Elina Meliou & Oliver Mallett, 2022. "Negotiating Gendered Ageing: Intersectional Reflexivity and Experiences of Incongruity of Self-Employed Older Women," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 36(1), pages 101-118, February.
    5. Hila Axelrad & Miki Malul & Israel Luski, 2018. "Unemployment among younger and older individuals: does conventional data about unemployment tell us the whole story?," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 52(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Konrad Turek & Kène Henkens, 2020. "How Skill Requirements Affect the Likelihood of Recruitment of Older Workers in Poland: The Indirect Role of Age Stereotypes," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 34(4), pages 550-570, August.
    7. David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2022. "Union Membership Peaks in Midlife," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 60(1), pages 124-151, March.
    8. Emilio J. Castilla, 2015. "Accounting for the Gap: A Firm Study Manipulating Organizational Accountability and Transparency in Pay Decisions," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(2), pages 311-333, April.
    9. Paul Osterman, 2022. "How American Adults Obtain Work Skills: Results of a New National Survey," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 75(3), pages 578-607, May.
    10. Hendrik P. van Dalen & Kène Henkens, 2019. "Do stereotypes about older workers change? A panel study on changing attitudes of managers," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 41(5), pages 535-550, December.
    11. Anselmo Ferreira Vasconcelos, 2018. "Older workers as a source of wisdom capital: broadening perspectives," Revista de Gestão, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(1), pages 102-118, January.
    12. Alicia H. Munnell & Steven A. Sass & Mauricio Soto, 2006. "Employer Attitudes towards Older Workers: Survey Results," Work Opportunity Briefs wob_3, Center for Retirement Research.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lössbroek, Jelle & Radl, Jonas, 2019. "Teaching older workers new tricks: workplace practices and gender training differences in nine European countries," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 39(10), pages 2170-2193.
    2. Stephan Brunow & Stefanie Lösch & Ostap Okhrin, 2022. "Labor market tightness and individual wage growth: evidence from Germany," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 56(1), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Lydia Maidl & Ann-Kathrin Seemann & Eckhard Frick & Harald Gündel & Piret Paal, 2022. "Leveraging Spirituality and Religion in European For-profit-organizations: a Systematic Review," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 23-53, April.
    4. repec:eee:labchp:v:2:y:1986:i:c:p:1039-1089 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Julian Kolev & Yuly Fuentes-Medel & Fiona Murray, 2019. "Is Blinded Review Enough? How Gendered Outcomes Arise Even Under Anonymous Evaluation," NBER Working Papers 25759, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Bennedsen, Morten & Larsen, Birthe & Wei, Jiayi, 2022. "Wage Transparency and the Gender Pay Gap: A Survey," Working Papers 17-2022, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Economics.
    7. David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2022. "Union Membership Peaks in Midlife," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 60(1), pages 124-151, March.
    8. Emilio J. Castilla & Aruna Ranganathan, 2020. "The Production of Merit: How Managers Understand and Apply Merit in the Workplace," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 909-935, July.
    9. Matthew S. Rutledge & Steven A. Sass & Jorge D. Ramos-Mercado, 2017. "How Does Occupational Access for Older Workers Differ by Education?," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 283-305, September.
    10. C. Sofia Machado & Miguel Portela, 2011. "Age and opportunities for promotion," NIPE Working Papers 03/2011, NIPE - Universidade do Minho.
    11. Nicole Maestas & Julie Zissimopoulos, 2010. "How Longer Work Lives Ease the Crunch of Population Aging," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, pages 139-160.
    12. Ondřej Dvouletý & Martin Lukeš & Mihaela Vancea, 2020. "Individual-level and family background determinants of young adults’ unemployment in Europe," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 47(2), pages 389-409, May.
    13. Michael R. Pergamit & Jonathan R. Veum, 1999. "What is a Promotion?," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 52(4), pages 581-601, July.
    14. Cyprien Batut & Ulysse Lojkine & Paolo Santini, 2021. "Which side are you on? A historical perspective on union membership composition in four European countries," Working Papers halshs-03364022, HAL.
    15. Peter T. Calcagno & Meg M. Montgomery, 2021. "The gender wage gap: an analysis of US congressional staff members," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 188(1), pages 183-201, July.
    16. Ferreira, Priscila, 2009. "The determinants of promotions and firm separations," ISER Working Paper Series 2009-11, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    17. Katharine G. Abraham & Henry S. Farber, 1988. "Returns to Seniority in Union and Nonunion Jobs: A New Look at the Evidence," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 42(1), pages 3-19, October.
    18. Tim Hermans & Martine Cools & Alexandra Van den Abbeele, 2021. "The role of information accuracy and justification in bonus allocations," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 197-223, June.
    19. Steven G. Allen, 2019. "Demand for Older Workers: What Do Economists Think? What Are Firms Doing?," NBER Working Papers 26597, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    20. Eva Labro & James D. Omartian, 2023. "Managing Employee Retention Concerns: Evidence from U.S. Census Data," Working Papers 23-07, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    21. Adina D. Sterling & Roberto M. Fernandez, 2018. "Once in the Door: Gender, Tryouts, and the Initial Salaries of Managers," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(11), pages 5444-5460, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:38:y:2024:i:4:p:1148-1171. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.britsoc.co.uk/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.