Most employers want to see flexible retirement provisions included in forthcoming age discrimination legislation, claims exclusive research by the Employers Forum on Age.
The study shows that 75 per cent of employers are in favour of flexible retirement arrangements – that would allow workers freedom to retire at any time during a 10-year period – in preference to a mandatory fixed date.
The Government is reviewing age discrimination a head of new legislation in 2006.
Sam Mercer, campaign director at the EFA, explained that some employers favour a set retirement date because it makes manpower planning easier and bypasses the need to sack older members of staff for poor performance. But she said a flexible approach would promote knowledge retention and a positive culture change on age.
BTGroup employment policy consultant Beck Mason, said the company improved skills retention through flexible retirement.
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