Škoda Auto a.s. is the largest car manufacturer in the Czech Republic. The headquarter of the company is in Mladá Boleslav, where the largest manufacturing facility is located. It has two other manufacturing facilities in the Czech Republic, in Kvasiny and Vrchlabí. Since 1991 it has been part of the German Volkswagen Group. It has long been the largest Czech company by sales, the largest Czech exporter, and one of the largest Czech employers. The company has also been awarded the title of Employer of the Decade, which reflects its achievements and reflects its long-standing high level of employee care. One of the company’s development goals is to turn the Czech Republic into a center for the development of electromobility in cooperation with the Volkswagen Group and local authorities, thus securing jobs in the long term.

Škoda Auto has developed a comprehensive age management strategy for all employees across the age spectrum. An individual and social approach are maintained. The pillars of this corporate strategy are health promotion, social policy, and education. An important factor is prevention which is implemented in the form of organized health promotion programs and social health promotion programs. Emphasis is also placed on ergonomics, automation, organization of work and workplaces to take account of reduced performance, the Social Seniority Program, health programs, Health Days, Healthy Company, personal health plans, and workplace tests.

One of the programs the company provides for its seniors, i.e. employees who have been with the company for 30 years or more, is the Rehabilitation Program. This is a two-week rehabilitation stay with a financial contribution from social funds. At workplaces selected by the company doctor, the employer provides additional five working days of paid leave per year linked to the completion of the rehabilitation stay. These recovery stays at the spa are intended for the elderly, disabled workers, workers selected by the doctor, and manufacturing workers aged 50+. And the range of places where it is possible to rehabilitate and relax is very varied. These include spas in the Czech Republic, such as Lázně Jáchymov, Lázně Bechyně, Teplice nad Bečvou, Mariánské Lázně, and in Slovakia Lázně Lúčky or Turčianské Teplice.

According to the surveys conducted in the company, the fact that the 50+ workforce is a relatively large component of the workforce emerged, and their age is gradually increasing. However, at individual workplaces, the majority of 50+ workers are satisfied with their jobs and only some would like to see a change in the work they do. The mentioned Rehabilitation Program is demanded and very appreciated by the workers.

It has also been shown that people 50+ have a complicated position in the labor market, mainly due to insufficient skills. However, it can be inferred that these workers have little interest in continuing to improve their skills if they do not need to do so at the moment.

Age discrimination usually produces negative effects, but it can also convey a message of kindness towards older people because of their age. Increased morbidity, stereotyping and reduced performance are usually afflictions associated with aging, and overcoming these obstacles is an essential part of everyday life for older people. Discrimination against older people has a major impact on the psychological side of a person. People feel useless, unused, and unmotivated to do activities that they could easily do at their age. However, the most important thing is the active attitude of the elderly themselves towards work, education, and new technologies. Older workers should not see their work as their last opportunity before retirement, but try to inform themselves about their options to avoid unnecessary strain on the body and negative attitudes towards the company. The outlook on old age among young and old alike needs to change as the retirement age continues to rise.

automotive, service and accessories, technology, emobility, manufacturing facility, individual and social approach, rehabilitation program