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Older workers get the sack

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Mature workers wanted?

Claims that older staff aren't being discarded ahead of next month's anti-discrimination laws have been challenged, says Martin Gurdon
 
Claims that an increase in demand for older workers contradicts press reports that senior staff are being ditched ahead of October’s incoming anti-discrimination laws have been greeted with scepticism by pressure groups.

“The latest Office of National Statistics figures show that older workers, particularly those above state pension age, are enjoying the biggest increases in employment, in both absolute and percentage terms,” said John Philpott, chief economist with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

“This finding confirms CIPD survey evidence that employers are increasingly keen to recruit and retain older workers and contradicts press reports… that employers are ditching older staff in advance of next month’s introduction of anti-age discrimination in employment legislation.”

However, Help the Aged claims that the legislation, which lays down fixed retirement ages, is leading to older workers losing their jobs.

“Lot’s of people are coming to us, it’s a big issue,” said Help the Aged spokesman Sam Heath. “We know of hospitals where you could work beyond 65, and now you can’t.”

But according to the CIPD, some 70% of employers are actively seeking employees aged between 55 and retirement age, and 31% want staff of pensionable age. 

This article was created: 21 September 2006.
This article was last edited: 6 November 2006.

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