you describe encore careers? MS: For the purposes of the study, we defined encore careers as paid or unpaid work conducted within a formal organization. The encore work is different from the worker's previous employment and seen as meaningful by the worker. We also applied the concept to workers aged 55 and older engaged in paid or voluntary encore positions. RD: Some of the participants saw encore careers as job opportunities. MS: That's right. So workers talked about the benefits of being able to use existing skills to earn money to help family or save for an overseas trip. Older workers also saw encore careers as way to "keep up-to-date" with current practices. RD: Others viewed encore careers as a path to self-actualization, a way to boost their identity . . . MS: To say "boost their identity" doesn't quite capture the depth of feeling these older adults held when speaking of their work. They talked about a sense of achievement, "giving back" and increasing self-worth through their encore careers. RD: Some even talked about having meaningful work for the first time. MS: Yes, this sentiment was expressed often by women who had had careers in looking after others, although several men mentioned this as well. RD: The team interviewed managers from business, social service and community-based organizations. How did they view encore workers? MS: Managers spoke of encore workers as desirable because of their experience, flexibility and the sometime calming influence they brought to the workplace. Managers tended to