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Jobs: Abolition of compulsory retirement age
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FROM April 6 this year employers will not be able to issue any notifications for compulsory retirement purely on the grounds of age.
Between April 6 and October 1, only people who were notified before April 6, and whose retirement date is before October 1 can be compulsorily retired using the default retirement age (DRA).
After October, employers will not be able to use the DRA to compulsorily retire employees.
Although the Government is removing the DRA, it will still be possible for individual employers to operate a compulsory retirement age, provided that they can objectively justify it. Examples could include air traffic controllers and police officers.
The government believes the move will give people more choice when to stop working. And, they think it will provide a boost to the UK economy.
Currently the DRA enables employers to make staff retire at 65 regardless of their circumstances, but the government feels the rules must change as people are living longer, healthier lives.
Employment relations Minister Edward Davey said: “Retirement should be a matter of choice rather than compulsion – people deserve the freedom to work for as long as they want and are able to do so.
“Older workers can play an incredibly important role in the workplace and it is high time we ended this outdated form of age discrimination.
“We are putting in place support to help business adapt to the change, but it is important to remember that about two-thirds of employers already operate without fixed retirement ages - and many of those with retirement ages already offer flexibility for workers to work longer.
Minister of state for pensions Steve Webb said: “It’s right that we put an end to this outdated form of discrimination where employers can force people out of a job simply because of their age. We will work with employers to ensure that the transition is fair and well understood.”
The government says it will help employers adapt to the change:
> Guidance has been published guidance through Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service).
> The government has published new Age Positive guidance setting out how many employers manage without fixed retirement ages and benefit from the employment and retention of older workers.
> The government says it will introduce an exception so that there are not unintended consequences for employers that currently voluntarily offer group risk insured benefits (income protection, life assurance, sickness and accident insurance, including private medical cover).
There had been concern that removal of the DRA could lead to increased costs and uncertainty for businesses by in effect removing the cut-off point beyond which such benefits are currently no longer offered.
Acas chief executive John Taylor said: “We stand ready to assist any employers who have been operating with a retirement age adapt to the change in the law. Acas has extensive experience of helping organisations understand how they can comply with government legislation. Our guidance will be available on the Acas website.”
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Weather for Aylesbury
Wednesday 22 February 2012
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Comments
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RGM
Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 07:58 PMand it will give another excuse to the work shy
JR
Friday, March 25, 2011 at 09:23 AMThis initiative will be known as the "work 'till you drop" scheme. It will have a knock-on effect whereby jobs aren't being freed up... - ...so there will be fewer opportunities for school-leavers or the long-term unemployed..
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