Longer Working Life. What Kind?
SAAM Annual Conference to Open Questions of Work Ability and the Future of Work
We live longer, and therefore we will likely work longer. But how can we ensure that a longer working life is also high-quality, meaningful, and sustainable? What can the individual, the employer, and society do about it?
The annual conference of the Slovak Association of Age Management (SAAM) titled “Longer Working Life. What Kind?” will seek answers to these questions as well. It will take place on November 11, 2026, in Bratislava on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the association's founding.
Population aging, the extension of working life, technological changes, and generational diversity bring new challenges for employers and individuals alike. Maintaining work ability is therefore becoming a topic that transcends the boundaries of human resource management. It touches on health, education, social relationships, working conditions, and quality of life.
Work ability is not just a matter of age.
The central idea of the conference is the concept of the Work Ability House, based on the research of Finnish Professor Juhani Ilmarinen. It shows that a person's ability to work depends on the interaction of several factors – health and functional capacity, competence, values and motivation, as well as working conditions and leadership style.
These four areas will form the content framework of the conference.
Participants will address questions such as how our daily habits affect work ability, what cognitive fitness means for work performance, how intergenerational learning can support competence development, and what challenges arise from balancing work and family responsibilities. There will also be space for sharing organizational experiences with inclusive culture, systematic succession planning, and leadership in a changing work environment.
From Expert Knowledge to Concrete Practice
The conference will connect the perspectives of experts in health, neuroscience, education, HR, and management with the experiences of organizations that deal with human development and working conditions in practice.
The goal is not only to open a discussion about a longer working life but also to offer inspiration on how to create a work environment where people of different generations can develop and maintain their work ability.
Who is the conference for?
For HR professionals, managers, specialists in education and human development, career counselors, employer representatives, and anyone interested in the issues of workforce aging, intergenerational cooperation, and sustainable working life.
Practical Information
Date: November 11, 2026, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Venue: Hotel Bratislava, Bratislava Organizer: Slovak Association of Age Management (SAAM) Media Partner: ProHuman
Full program, speaker information, and registration form: https://www.agemanagement.sk/konferencie/konferencia-2026/
The conference is held on the occasion of 10 years of the Slovak Association of Age Management, which supports the development and application of age management principles in Slovakia.
