2006-02-14-Kibbutz—work ethic |
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HAIFA
—The
kibbutz still constitutes A
study conducted at the The
centrality of work for kibbutz members over 50 is also greater than for younger
members, according to Yifat Silber, who conducted the study under the guidance
of Prof. Yitzhak Harpaz. She
also found that 83.7% of kibbutz members over the age of 60 wanted to continue
working even when there was no economic necessity to do so. The
researcher pointed out that these findings contrast with earlier studies showing
a downward trend in the central place of work among those age 50 and over.
Those studies also showed a growing unwillingness of people to work if
they didn’t need the money as they came closer to retirement age, which until
recently was Silber,
a graduate student in the Dept. of Sociology at the “Retirement
in the eyes of older kibbutz members is seen as conflicting with kibbutz values,
which is grounded in activity, involvement, and contributing to the kibbutz.” Because
the kibbutz has in recent years taken on marketplace-like norms, including
forced retirement at the accepted age, Silber advises kibbutz human resource
personnel to pay attention to her study. “They
should plan the retirement process for older members.
Like giving workshops on the subject,” she advises.
“At the same time, they should look for alternatives to employment,
such as volunteering. This would
respond to these members’ need for work even if they don’t need a livelihood
after retirement.” A.M.
Goldstein is the English language editor for the University of Haifa's Department
of External Affairs. |