A conceptual review of the love-hate relationship between technology and successful aging at work: Identifying fits and misfits through job design

Previous research suggests that technology can both enhance and undermine successful aging. However, few studies have combined insights on aging and technology in the work context. This paper aims to contribute to the literature on successful aging at work and STAARA technology by integrating these two literature streams through a job design perspective in a conceptual review. Based on insights from the literature on successful aging at work and technology we propose that STAARA technology can facilitate successful aging at work by reducing physical and emotional demands and increasing skill variety, autonomy, and support. Whereas STAARA technology can also harm successful aging at work by reducing autonomy, skill variety, and social support. Self-regulatory behaviors, an open workgroup climate, and HRM practices can help to minimize the potential misfit between technology and aging at work, whereas age discrimination is an important constraint. The propositions of this paper should be tested in future research. •STAARA Technology can facilitate aging at work by reducing physical and emotional demands.•STAARA Technology can facilitate aging by increasing skill variety, autonomy, feedback, and support.•STAARA Technology can harm aging by reducing autonomy, feedback, skill variety, and social support.