A Multilevel Integrated Review on Age Diversity in the Workplace: A Focus on Age Differences in Dyads, Groups, and Organizations

Abstract In recent years, the implications of an age-diverse workforce have attracted significant scholarly interest and public debate, especially in light of an increasingly aging population. Accordingly, we systematically review existing research on age diversity within workplaces and organize and critically appraise the literature focusing on three themes: 1) conceptualizations, operationalizations, and relevant constructs, 2) underlying theoretical mechanisms and outcomes, and 3) contextual moderators/boundary conditions. Based on these themes, we synthesize findings into an integrative framework to provide a holistic view of the literature. Emphasizing the importance of taking a multilevel, multidimensional, and process-oriented approach when conducting research on age diversity in workplaces, we raise specific issues and opportunities for future research across each theme while discussing their theoretical and practical implications. We hope that our comprehensive, systematic, interdisciplinary review will open new avenues of research on this important topic.