Member Article

Tipster: Time for pipe and slippers?

Someone recently suggested to the Tipster that it was time to grow old gracefully and put on the pipe and slippers. In many ways they were right but there is an automatic assumption that as we get older we should slow down. There is an element of truth but at the same time if you look around at many high achievers you will see that one of the reasons for their success is that they have never accepted the norm.

This raises an interesting point in relation to retirement age issues. As many of you will be aware the national default retirement age has gone but companies can still have a retirement age of 65, they will just need to be able to justify the position.

There have been a number of cases at European Union level where retirement ages of 60/65 have been held to be justified largely due to the nature of the job (they required a strong element of physical capability/health and safety issues). Whilst recognising this, employers should not become lazy and just fall into the trap of thinking “If they are older they are slower”. Often it is those with greater experience that have seen the same old problems time and time again that offers a route out of difficult situations or can offer a viable solution.

Think carefully about the retirement age issues. Take advice on the procedure. Make sure that no automatic assumptions about employees capabilities are made. Claims for age discrimination have increased considerably over the last year and it can be an expensive mistake to make.

For further information about this tip or to learn more about Crutes’ services contact David Gibson on 0191 233 9762.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Gibson .