Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 6-20-2019 Aging in the Workplace: A Cross Case Analysis in Jamaica's Finance Sector Malaika Tahirah Edwards Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Part of the Human Resources Management Commons, and the Organization Development Commons Recommended Citation Edwards, Malaika Tahirah, "Aging in the Workplace: A Cross Case Analysis in Jamaica's Finance Sector" (2019). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 4979. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/4979 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. AGING IN THE WORKPLACE: A CROSS CASE ANALYSIS IN JAMAICA’S FINANCE SECTOR A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The School of Leadership and Human Resource Development by Malaika Tahirah Edwards B.Sc., University of the West Indies, Mona, 2000 M.A., Columbia University, 2002 August 2019 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As I end my doctoral journey, I am mindful of the support that I received throughout the process, and I cannot close this Chapter without saying ‘Thank You.’ Firstly, I want to thank my dissertation committee: Dr. Robinson…I appreciate all the guidance and support that you provided throughout this entire doctoral journey- academic and otherwise. You have been thoughtful and kind, and for this I am most appreciative. Dr. Arbuthnot, thank you for being supportive throughout this entire process and for accommodating me and so many others. ‘Operation Phinished’ was exactly what I needed to see this Dissertation through to completion. To my other committee members: Dr. Priscilla ‘Lily’ Allen, Dr. Pamela Monroe and Dr. Michael Burnett…Thank you for providing sound advice and invaluable expertise. To my colleagues, particularly Dorothy Kemp, whose focus and discipline helped me get through the Comprehensive Exam stage. Thank you for your help. To the participants who took part in this study...Thank You! I appreciate your time and your willingness to be a part of this exercise. Each of you helped to make this PhD a reality. To my family- this could not have been possible without you, and this PhD is for you. To my parents, you instilled in me the value of a solid education and you both led by example. To my father, who told me years ago that ‘there is a PhD out there with your name on it’ and reminded me throughout the process that a PhD ‘is a good thing to have.’ To my mother, thank you for always encouraging me- I can hear you saying ‘girl, ah proud ah yu.’ I will keep making you proud. Dr. Nivischi! Your prayers did not go unanswered. You guided and supported me along the way. PtL. My siblings!! my sounding board, voice of reason, motivators, entertainers …you are not just my brother and sister, but you are both excellent friends. ii Lastly, to my friends who cheered me on and encouraged me. Thank you all so much. To those who kept me calm and grounded…who dubbed me ‘Prof. Mal’ at the start of this journey and reminded me that the PhD was important “for a life of no regrets.” I absolutely appreciate you. I am thankful to everyone who supported me along this journey. I am forever grateful. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................ ii ILLUSTRATIONS ........................................................................................................................ vi ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. vii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 Global Aging ............................................................................................................................... 3 Aging in the Workplace .............................................................................................................. 5 Retirement ................................................................................................................................... 6 Organizational Response ............................................................................................................. 8 Aging in Jamaica ....................................................................................................................... 10 Aging in the Workplace. Finance Sector .................................................................................. 10 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................................... 12 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................. 14 Research Question ..................................................................................................................... 15 Significance of the Study .......................................................................................................... 15 Limitations ................................................................................................................................ 18 Operational Definition of Terms ............................................................................................... 19 Summary and Organization of the Study .................................................................................. 21 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................... 22 Baby Boomers ........................................................................................................................... 24 Aging in the Workplace ............................................................................................................ 30 Retirement ................................................................................................................................. 30 Section Re-cap ........................................................................................................................... 43 Aging in the Caribbean ............................................................................................................. 43 Jamaica. Country Overview ...................................................................................................... 50 Jamaica’s Aging Population ...................................................................................................... 51 Aging in the Workplace ............................................................................................................ 52 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 55 Section Re-cap ........................................................................................................................... 57 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................................. 57 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 63 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................ 64 Research Design and Methodological Framework ................................................................... 64 Research Site ............................................................................................................................. 67 Case Selection ........................................................................................................................... 68 Data Collection .......................................................................................................................... 71 Data Management ..................................................................................................................... 74 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 75 Trustworthiness and Credibility ................................................................................................ 81 Researchers Role ....................................................................................................................... 83 iv Summary ................................................................................................................................... 84 CHAPTER 4. FINDINGS ............................................................................................................. 85 Section I. Organizational Profiles ............................................................................................. 86 Section II. Baby Boomer Profiles ............................................................................................. 93 Section III. Government Profile ...............................................................................................