More than a third of the UKs workers believe that older employees could act as career blockers, preventing younger staff from climbing the career ladder.
That is according to research from Canada Life Group Insurance, which reveals that 22% of the workforce believes there is a negative stereotype or stigma surrounding older employees.
In addition, only 12% think that older staff are appreciated and respected in the workplace, despite 40% saying that having a mix of young and old workers is positive and creates a wider range of skills.
"As our population ages and the traditional retirement age becomes a distant memory, its inevitable older employees will become more commonplace in the UK workforce," Canada Life Group Insurance marketing director, Paul Avis, said.
"This is arguably a positive change, allowing employers to capitalise on the skills of multiple generations, however, a persistent stigma and lack of respect for older staff threatens to impact this type of worker's wellbeing and productivity."
The research is based on an online survey of 1,004 full and part-time UK employees last month, finding that just 11% think employers are encouraging older staff to stay in the workplace.
To counter this, approximately a third think that flexible working and more part-time opportunities should be offered to support an older workforce, while 14% believe new skills training is the best solution.
With the UK's workforce increasingly getting older, it is thought that support services and protection products will become more and more important.
Of those surveyed that had an opinion on this, 24% believe income protection would be the most valued, followed by critical illness cover and life insurance, cited by 17% and 14% respectively.
In total, 43% think support services - providing access to employee assistance programmes, rehabilitation services, and second medical opinion providers - will be most useful for those planning to work beyond the age of 65.
"Companies who provide appropriate support for older workers will be the ones who benefit most from multi-generational working," Avis continued.
"Our research shows it's not just financial benefits that are most useful for older workers, but also the support services that are provided alongside these, which provide daily value by helping to improve staff health and wellbeing, giving vital help to enable a return to work when illness does strike."