Perspectives toward bridge employment among aged governmental officers in selected provinces in Thailand

Many countries, including Thailand, are facing an aging society. Several organizations, both public and private, are considering bridge employment as an option for solving the situation. This study explored aged government officers' perspectives on bridge employment. A qualitative approach and a cross-sectional design were applied in this study by interviewing 28 aged governmental officers regarding their motivation and need for support to work efficiently. Thematic analyses revealed eight themes: (1) health status and work performance, (2) aging, workplace factors, and work performance, (3) job characteristics and workloads, (4) career progression and self-development, (5) organizational commitment, (6) social and mental wellbeing, (7) compensation and welfare, and (8) work-place environment and working culture. The motivations and organizational support required by aged officers seem to differ by gender, with males prioritizing social contact and mental wellbeing while females gravitate more toward financial gains. The suggestions for human resource management offered by interviewees included work-related interventions focusing on job assignment, team management, work hours, and organizational culture. These findings may be considered by policymakers in the public sector to develop strategic plans to use bridge employment in addressing the shortage of personnel and the aging population.