Warr and Fay (2001) previously investigated this relationship and found differential
results for personal initiative towards the job versus personal initiative towards
developmental activities. They found no relationship between age and job proactivity,
but a negative relationship with developmental proactivity. This suggests that older
workers’ limited initiative towards development might seriously limit their (future)
work participation, performance and flexibility. This is problematic in light of the
demographic outlined above. For the research field of career development it is crucial
to understand the link between age and proactivity. This might benefit employers and
society at large in finding ways to promote work participation and continued career
development in older employees. It might also benefit employees in that better
conditions are created for extended participation in attractive work over the career
span. Unfortunately, apart from Warr and Fay’s short report dating from 2001, no
other studies are available on this relevant issue. This is the first purpose of the current
study: to find out how age relates to proactivity and whether Human Resource practices offered by an organisation make any difference in this relationship.
We will assess HR practices
by interviewing HR and line managers in order to avoid all measures deriving from the
same (employee) source, thereby reducing the risk of common method bias.
Considering proactivity as an outcome is not enough, however, because ultimately it is
also relevant how proactivity in turn contributes to career development.