Friday 25 September 2009

Compulsory Retirement Age - A Good Thing?


SW (a regular commenter to this blog) has suggested that we look at and discuss the BBC's UK Retirement Age Challenge Fails news piece.

SW asked "Robert, what is your opinion on the Federation of Small Businesses lobbying and supporting for the compulsory retirement age being kept at 65?"

(At least) Two things to discuss

1) Should the FSB hold such a view (to represent its members)?
2) Should there be compulsory retirement age at 65?

This really is a can of worms.

3 comments:

Colin Dunning said...

I wasn't going to say anything but after a few early evening drinks, this has got my goat.

1) It is outrageous that at age 64 you get a redundancy payment but at 65 you get none.(The socialist in me)

2 This is a real employers vs employees issue. This was why they set up trade unions in the first place. (The socialist in me)

3 The thing that everyone is ducking ("frieghtened of the law, Gov") is the fact that old people might not be as good as young people as employees but no-one will stand up and say it. And that is why employers want a way of removing them. (The businessman in me)

It is a can of worms. Anyone who employs anyone over 60 will be nervous about putting their name to any opinions for fear of it coming up in a court of law. (The coward in me)

Health and safety, and employment law are all ghastly. (The Telegraph reader in me) I guess that's why Peninsula are doing so well.

Anonymous said...

When this kicked off there was a great comment in the D Mail online:

I think it is disgusting that people are not given the opportunity to carry on working just because they are 65! Age is just a number and if you are still fit enough to do the job you should be allowed to,especially when the pension is not enough to survive on! This government is hypocritical, it says it encourages people to work past retirement and then legislates against it! I can't wait for the election to kick this lot out, they should never have got in again last time. I certainly didn't vote for them! I think they want everybody on benefits so that they are dependent on the state and will therefore vote for them!

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1159573/European-court-backs-UK-retirement-age-65.html#ixzz0S8uzwLV9

Bonnie

Anonymous said...

When this kicked off there was a great comment in the D Mail online:

I think it is disgusting that people are not given the opportunity to carry on working just because they are 65! Age is just a number and if you are still fit enough to do the job you should be allowed to,especially when the pension is not enough to survive on! This government is hypocritical, it says it encourages people to work past retirement and then legislates against it! I can't wait for the election to kick this lot out, they should never have got in again last time. I certainly didn't vote for them! I think they want everybody on benefits so that they are dependent on the state and will therefore vote for them!

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1159573/European-court-backs-UK-retirement-age-65.html#ixzz0S8uzwLV9

Bonnie