Calls for change to retirement laws

Jan 31 2010 by Michael Kelly, Sunday Sun

The Government has promised a review of the law and has given every indication it is seriously considering changing it.

Equalities Minister Harriet Harman says enforcing the current retirement age costs the country £31bn a year in lost GDP.

She said: “We have to understand that we now have a new cohort of well, active, healthy older people. The role that they play in their families, in the economy and in society must be recognized and responded to. We must recognize the emergence of the ‘wellderly’.”

A number of employers, including Marks & Spencer, Asda, British Gas and Tesco have scrapped compulsory retirement while others, such as the Nationwide Building Society, have raised it to 75.

Meanwhile, B&Q, who Syd works for, has led the field in encouraging employees to carry on working.

In the 1980s the DIY chain launched a groundbreaking initiative which saw two stores - in Macclesfield and Exmouth - staffed entirely by workers over the age of 50. A study by Warwick University revealed how successful it was.

Leon Foster-Hill, B&Q Diversity and Engagement adviser, said: “Profit was 18% higher, staff turnover was six times lower, absenteeism was reduced by 39% and shrinkage of stock, resulting from things like theft or breakages through mishandling, was reduced by 58%.”

At the time the initiative was borne out of necessity as the firm was expanding and, according to bosses, they wanted to tap into a pool of unused talent. Today, about a quarter of its 32,000 workforce nationwide is over 50. Leon estimates about 10% is over 65 – more than 3,000 employees, including many in the North East.

He said: “The benefits are a greatly improved level of service, a bigger skills base. They have more life experience and we find they are really good at dealing with the public.

“There is a great demand for work in this age group. We have been inundated with applications from across the country. No one wants to feel they are on the scrap heap. For some, finance will be the motivator, but not for everyone.”

One person to benefit from this is Alan Sysum , 73, who works as a customer adviser and stock replenisher at B&Q’s store in Hartlepool. The former factory worker said when he first arrived he expected to retire at 65 but his experience there had encouraged him to stay longer.

“It’s given me a lot of insight into how to treat other people, how to help them. Financially speaking, I could retire tomorrow. I have plenty of hobbies and it’s not like I would have nothing to do. I have a lot of friends in my age group who thought it was marvellous to retire. But I enjoy coming into work. I feel I still have a lot to offer.”

Alan, who lives in Peterlee, County Durham, added: “I’ll continue working as long as my health holds up. I don’t think I’ll be working until I’m 95, but you never know.”