Institutionalised and internalised ageism: implications for organisational path dependence in the Swiss banking sector

Switzerland boasts one of the highest employment rates among OECD countries for 55- to 64-year-olds, yet the federal authorities strive to promote extended working lives (EWL) further. To this end, a wide-ranging pension reform (AVS21) was adopted in 2022 that significantly reduces the number and scope of early retirement schemes. Using qualitative research methods, this article examines the ‘organisational path dependence’ of the emerging ‘age management’ policies in the Swiss banking sector. Despite increasing pressures on older bank employees to extend the duration of their working lives, we show how a combination of ‘institutionalised’ and ‘internalised’ ageism hinders the adoption and effective implementation of age management policies in two case study banks. The article provides valuable insights into the need to contextualise the analysis of EWL policies and practices in specific organisational settings and sociohistorical contexts.