Policy supports to Alexandra Hospital
Singapore is a country that advocates for equal opportunity for all. There are people of diverse cultures and races in the country. The state supports for non-discrimination of persons based on religion, gender, age or race. To encourage the participation of the elderly in the workforce, the country's legislature passed the Retirement Age Act in 1999. This law led to the raise of the retirement age from 60 to 62 years.
In 2006, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices got established to promote non-discriminatory employment practices. Another aim of the coalition was to change mindsets among employees, employers and the general public toward fair employment practices for all workers. The creation of the alliance is timely as the shifting characteristics of the workforce necessitate a more comprehensive stance toward women, physically challenged individuals, the disabled, and ex-offenders. They also cater for other persons whose membership in certain social groups renders them vulnerable to workplace discrimination other than that stipulated by Article.
The above policies fully support Alexandra hospital’s program on the inclusion of senior citizens into the workforce. The hospital aims to create a cultural fit for elderly workers to help them adapt. The socialization of all employees makes every member a health ambassador. Educational programs such as "Health intervention program" aim to give elderly workers a deeper understanding of chronic diseases. Workplace ergonomics ensures that older people work in an environment that is safe from workplace injuries. Other programs include “Health for Older Persons”, wellness for elder workers and Health for Life. All these steps by the hospital are in tandem with the government’s policy on the integration of the workforce (Briscoe et al., 29.)
In my home country, the government stipulates a definite retirement age of 55 years with the reason being that most of the population is comprised of youth. Therefore, the older citizens need to create space for the young people to get employed. Once people retire, they utilize their personal savings or rely on social security to survive. There are no programs to help keep them fit or to assist them in sustaining themselves or being productive in their later years.
How successful the program is
The strategy adopted by Alexandra hospital has received a good reception from the workers. They now view each other as a team and are more cohesive. Health programs initiated by the institution have assisted the elderly worker not only to become fitter but also to become more productive within the hospital. The cultural fit also enabled the quick adaptation to post-retirement work culture by the elderly workers. It also allowed them to feel welcome in an environment where many workers were junior to them. They could now work with less fear of discrimination.
Indeed, the programs initiated by Alexandra hospital have proven very useful. One thing I would improve if I were a manager of the hospital, is the introduction of programs aimed at the young. Youth is the future of any country. Failure to invest in the youth will deprive the nation of quality manpower. The program would ensure that youth learn a thing or two from their elders.
Risks and challenges
There is too much focus on the elderly. These individuals will eventually become too old to work. It is the youth who will have to take over, and if no focus is given to them, the quality of healthcare will eventually diminish.
The employment of many staff members will cause logistical challenges. Handling huge groups for training requires more manpower and personalized teaching. Managing large numbers of staff is also a daunting task that involves a lot of planning and careful execution.
The huge number of employees also brings additional learning costs to the hospital. First of all the workers will need salaries. Second, a lot of resources will get spent on training and orientation. Older people require more time to understand and grasp information. Hiring and training them in high numbers will consume more time as they learn slowly. In my opinion, the hospital should increase more technologically advanced equipment that increase efficiency of patient treatment and cure.
Works Cited
Briscoe, Dennis R, Randall S. Schuler, and Ibraiz Tarique. International Human Resource Management: Policy and Practice for the Global Enterprise. 5th ed. London: Routledge, 2016. Print.
