Why do or don't older employees seek knowledge from younger colleagues? A relation–opportunity model to explain how age‐inclusive human resources practices foster older employees' knowledge seeking from younger colleagues

Knowledge-related interactions between older and younger employees are crucial for business success. Although research has contributed much to understanding why share knowledge with colleagues, little is known about employees' motivation seek knowledge. In this study, we answer the question of how age-inclusive human resources (HR) practices can foster seeking from colleagues. Drawing on social learning theory that conceptualises learning-oriented behaviour (i.e. seeking) as being inextricably linked context person-related factors, develop a dual pathway relation–opportunity model outlining HR development striving, which, in turn, promotes On one hand, propose relation-based identifies contact quality colleagues socio-emotional mechanism linking via striving. other suggest an opportunity-based future time perspective mechanism. We find support our hypotheses sample 502 who participated three-wave survey. discuss theoretical implications encourage scholars further shift conversation towards inclusive overcomes stereotypical views employees.