News
Comment on Harriet Harman scrapping forced retirement age
11 January 2010
Further to the new proposals set out by Harriet Harman to scrap compulsory retirement at age 65, Denise Keating, Chief Executive of leading age campaigners, the Employers Forum on Age (EFA), commented."We are absolutely delighted that the Government is finally taking steps to tackle an archaic system which allows the enforced retirement of people simply because of their age.
Today with people living longer than ever before, the current rationale for continuing to enforce a default retirement age when people reach 65 is completely outdated. "Every year thousands of people over 65 make huge contributions to the UK's economy and heritage, yet despite being capable of continuing in work, many more individuals are involuntarily retired at 65.
"These economic times create an even more pressing imperative for the Government to do something with regards to this issue. Pensioners need to work now because they have seen the financial crisis drain their pension value and as Britain becomes an ageing society, with huge demographic change, we are facing an even greater pensions' crisis which will affect all of us.
"In an ageing society and as the recession continues to bite, we can no longer afford a culture of early retirement. It is vital that this anomaly in the age discrimination legislation is removed as it will help deliver the massive cultural shift which is needed to stop people being stereotyped by age."
The EFA works with a number of employers, including B&Q, Hertfordshire County Council, Department for Work and Pensions, Nationwide and McDonald's, who report that operating without the default retirement age has resulted in significant business benefits; filling skills gaps, keeping valuable members of their workforce, and having a better connection with their diverse customer base.
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For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the following:
Employers Forum on Age
Rachel Krys T: 07799 625 233
E: rachel.krys@efa.org.uk
Lansons Communications, Chantal Heckford
T: 0207 294 3604
E: chantalh@lansons.com
Notes to Editors:
The Employers Forum on Age (EFA) is the leading campaigner on age issues in the workplace. The EFA is a think tank of employers established in 1996 to eradicate ageism in the workplace. Since then it has helped provide advice, training and support for workplaces that want to eradicate age discrimination from their employment practices and helped prepare them for the new legislation.
Denise Keating became Chief Executive of the EFA in May 09. Denise was initially involved in creating the Forum in 1994 with a launch in 1996; she has been a Board Director and Trustee since 2002. Denise has a wealth of experience in diversity plus significant commercial experience across a number of different sectors. Previously, at BGL Group, Denise realigned HR and Communications to deliver efficient services that improved business performance. As a Board Director for Craegmoor Healthcare, Denise was accountable for HR, IT & Clinical Governance. Craegmoor employs 7,000 staff and manages care homes nationwide. Prior to this, she held senior positions at Marks & Spencer and Nationwide Building Society where she worked on change programmes that positioned both organizations as an employer of choice.