As workforce demographics shift, employers have an opportunity to design work in ways that support long-term health, performance, and participation across all career stages. Across the country, more people are choosing to stay in paid work later in life. As of late 2024 / early 2025, around 16–17% of Australians aged 65 and over are participating in the labour force, the highest level on record according to Ceic Data Australia. This could be due to a few factors, including people wanting to stay engaged to their passions, contribute their skills, or remain connected to their workplace communities. Think of all the friends and connections you still have from your working life, whether its current or previous roles. For some people leaving that routine for retirement can be tough. Supporting an ageing workforce requires more than just compliance and ticking off some check lists. It calls for a proactive approach to understanding your employee’s health, capacity and job demands. Health checks and job design play a critical role in ensuring work remains safe, sustainable, and productive across their time at your business. Experience As A Strength Across The Business One of the most valuable contributions experienced workers bring is depth of knowledge built over time. This includes technical expertise, strong judgement, and the ability to navigate complex or high-pressure situations. Habits that have been deeply ingrained into their sub-conscious from earlier in their career that has become second nature over the years. This abundance of knowledge can play a significant role in: Formally/informally mentoring and guidance for less experienced or younger colleagues Contributing to workplace culture and stability Strengthen decision-making through patterns and firsthand experiences Supporting experienced workers elevates capability across the business and builds a culture where people feel comfortable and wanting to learn from one another. Designing Work That Supports Capability Clever work design benefits everyone, not just older workers. When tasks are structured the right way, productivity, safety, and job satisfaction improves across the board. The following strategic adjustments are designed to optimise workplace performance and ensure your business effectively meets diverse operational demands. Task design and physical load management: Breaking physically demanding tasks into shorter cycles with adequate breaks Sharing demanding tasks across team members rather than assigning them to individuals Introducing mechanical aids or lifting tools where needed Ergonomics and workstation design: Adjustable workstations like a sit-stand desk to improve posture and reduce the impact of prolonged periods of sitting Ergonomic desk chairs, help improve posture and increase comfort Ensure lighting is adequate for the space, this helps with eye strain and concentration Organising or cleaning commonly used spaces ensures there are no physical hazards and reduces the risk of injury Shift design/scheduling: Flexible/predictable shift patterns, where possible, helps create routine and balance in the employee’s personal life Rotating high demand/late night shift times with the whole team Talking with the employee to see what shifts/schedules works best for them and their personal needs Role flexibility and job variety: Creating hybrid roles that combine movement and desk tasks Fostering training and up-skill courses Supporting role changes gradually rather than abruptly Health Checks As A Supporting Tool Health checks are an advantage businesses can leverage to ensure alignment between job demands and capacity. Ensuring the work continues to be done in a safe manner. Pre-employment medicals can help employers understand an employee’s capacity before placing them in a role with specific physical or cognitive demands. For older workers this helps the business see where the person is at and how they can adjust a role, or provide equipment, for the employee to undertake the role safely. For workers who have been in the same role for an extended period, annual health checks provide valuable insight into how the demands of the job are impacting them physically and mentally over time. By understanding where an employee is at, employers can make informed decisions on: Matching people to suitable roles/tasks Supporting early intervention and preventing escalation of issues Guiding ergonomic or task adjustments Safer and more sustainable job design Planning Ahead Rather Than Reacting Waiting for injury rates to rise before taking action is expensive not only for businesses, but for your employee’s health. In Australia, there were approximately 146,700 serious workers compensation claims in the 2023–2024 financial year, equating to more than 400 serious work-related injury or illness claims every single day (Safe Work Australia). A proactive strategy, centred on health assessments, tailored support and continuous monitoring helps prevent incidents before they occur, and help businesses support our ageing workforce. Regular health checks and functional capacity evaluations give employers insight to plan jobs safely, allocate duties wisely and promote long-term workforce wellbeing. Investing in these practices into your workplaces, is about opening communication and building a resilient, capable, inclusive workforce for the future.