Firm Willingness to Offer Bridge Employment

Published: 2020
Project ID: UM20-15

Abstract

While there is some research on the prevalence of bridge employment and partial retirement behavior from the worker perspective, we have no evidence about firms’ ability and willingness to accommodate worker demands for job amenities as they transition into retirement. Is bridge employment costly to firms? This project will provide the first estimates of the firms’ perceived costs of provision of desirable working conditions for older workers. We will survey firms about their willingness to accommodate new and current employees who express a desire to reduce hours or have more flexible schedules as they transition into retirement. More prevalent bridge employment opportunities could drastically alter retirement rates and Social Security claiming behavior, but we have little evidence about whether firms have the ability to accommodate these types of transitions. This research will produce novel findings on the potential role of firms in lengthening working lives.

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