Changes to the retirement age
The Government has confirmed the removal of the Default Retirement Age (DRA) so that people have more choice about when to stop working. This provides an opportunity for employers to review their practices, policies and processes for managing employees and their performance.
The change means that:
- From 1 October 2011, employers will not be able to compulsorily retire their employees, unless the retirement can be objectively justified in their particular circumstance.
The removal of the DRA not only raises practical issues for employers in managing the older worker but also across the workforce more generally with a wide range of areas such as succession and workforce planning, performance management and ensuring consistency and fairness in their policies and practices.
The proposed changes will therefore have far reaching implications for the way many organisations work and employers who fail to make the necessary changes to approaches to employee retirement may face claims of unfair dismissal and discrimination.
For more information please click on the links below to view guidance from ACAS and the DWP:
Answers to employer questions on older workers & retirement (pdf)
Guidance for employers - working without the default retirement age (pdf)
Workforce management without a fixed retirement age (pdf)
Recruiting older workers
To see examples of where care providers have successfully recruited and retained older workers please click on the links below:
If you would like any further information please contact info@skillsforcare.org.uk
changes to the retirement age
