Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Latest NewsEquality, diversity and inclusionAge discriminationRetirement

Retirement age abolition campaign get Lords backing

by Mike Berry 15 Jan 2009
by Mike Berry 15 Jan 2009

There was strong support in the House of Lords earlier this week for the Personnel Today and Employers Forum on Age campaign to scrap the default retirement age.

In a debate tabled by Baroness Greengross, peers from all parties warned that such discrimination against older workers in the UK was outdated and could have harmful effects on the economy.

The campaign aims to force the government to commit to remove the age in 2011, and not simply to review it. This would provide clarity and give employers time to prepare.

Peers agreed that many employers still needed help to overcome fears about removing the default retirement age, but the economic downturn meant that retaining experienced workers was vital as firms struggled to survive. The Lords pointed out it was also beneficial to the economy that older workers make longer contributions to pension pots.

CBI claims that employers need the cut-off to plan ahead and allow people to retire with dignity were branded “an excuse for bad management”.

Lord Carter, speaking on behalf of the government, admitted that the default retirement age of 65 had not enjoyed “universal support” when introduced in 2006. However, he refused to commit to an earlier review than 2011, and said ministers would reform the legislation “when the evidence shows that it is the right thing to do”.

Catharine Pusey, director of the Employers Forum on Age, said: “As Lord Carter pointed out, older workers will help businesses pull through and out of the economic downturn as markets improve, but conversely, they may be those who are often worst hit. It is, therefore, disappointing that the government is not more forthcoming to anything beyond a review of the default retirement age in 2011, despite cross-party support for its abolition.”

You can register your support for our campaign by signing the petition on the Number 10 website.

Avatar
Mike Berry

previous post
Racist recruitment accusations denied
next post
Redundancy rout continues as more firms confirm job cuts

You may also like

Maya Forstater wins belief discrimination case over gender-critical...

6 Jul 2022

Learning disability employment gap shows local spikes

6 Jul 2022

Inflation: A return to the 1970s or a...

6 Jul 2022

NI threshold increase ‘not likely to benefit workers’

6 Jul 2022

Kristie Higgs succeeds in bid to remove LGBT...

5 Jul 2022

‘Low flight risk’ designer wins £100k age discrimination...

5 Jul 2022

Rail signaller discriminated against by staff who watched...

5 Jul 2022

The ultimate guide to payroll for small businesses

5 Jul 2022

More government support to help over 50s back...

5 Jul 2022

NHS to end full pay for Covid-19 sick...

4 Jul 2022
  • The ultimate guide to payroll for small businesses PROMOTED | You’ve started a business that has expanded to the point of requiring more staff to meet demand. Congratulations!...Read more
  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+