You're Fired!
The Employers Forum On Age Targets MPs Over 65 To Remove The Default Retirement Age

2 July 2008

Winston Churchill announced the end of World War Two at 70. Nelson Mandela was South Africa's first black President at 77. Fortunately for them, and the many others they helped, they weren't forced to retire at 65.

MPs who are 65 and over will this week receive notice of their retirement date as The Employers Forum on Age continues to highlight the UK's outdated retirement rules. This is timed to coincide with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) considering the future of retirement in the UK in light of the Heyday challenge.

There are 78 MPs and 510 peers over the age of 65 who, under current rules, could be excluded from Parliament - depriving both Houses of decades of experience, knowledge and wisdom. As part of an ongoing campaign to urge employers and politicians to take a different approach to retirement, the EFA has sent spoof retirement letters to all MPs who are approaching or over 65 years of age to notify them that they will need to retire in nine months time.

The format replicates the standard notice of retirement letter that thousands of workers in the UK receive when they reach 65 - regardless of whether they wish to retire or not.

Rachel Krys, Director at The Employers Forum on 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 archaic. We know from our own research that people want more choice about how and when they retire and we are working with employers to increase this choice and extend flexibility for employees.

"We have sent our spoof retirement letter to MPs to raise awareness of this issue amongst a workforce who are lucky to have the freedom to choose when they wish to retire, or at least when they don't want to stand again .

"The contribution which many great people have made to society would not have happened if they'd been forced to take retirement when they reached 65. And they are not alone - 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.

"The EFA is working with a growing number of employers who are operating very successfully without a fixed retirement age and is encouraging other members to follow suit. The EFA believe that the Government should commit to removing the default retirement in 2011, and not simply to a review, to provide clarity for employers and employees and give employers several years to prepare. We firmly believe that it is inevitable that the default retirement age (DRA) will be removed altogether, whatever the outcome of the Heyday challenge which is being heard by the ECJ this week."

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For further information please contact:

The Employers Forum on Age
Rachel Krys: 020 7785 6556 - rachel.krys@efa.org.uk
Beth Vaughan: 020 7785 6539 - beth.vaughan@efa.org.uk

Or

Lansons Communications
Helen Thomson: 0207 294 3604 - helent@lansons.com
Nicola Hussey: 0207 566 9718 - nicolah@lansons.com


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