The default normal retirement age of 65 is likely to be abolished, according to reports on the Times and Telegraph websites today (11 January 2010). Harriet Harman, the Minister for Women and Equality, is to announce that the Government will "fast-track" its review of the normal retirement age. She is proposing that workers will have the option to work beyond 65 and will be able to ask to work part time or at home.
At present, the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 permit employers to dismiss, on the grounds of retirement, those employees who are aged 65 or over without this being regarded as age discrimination, although employers must go through a "duty to consider" procedure, under which employees may request that their employment should continue. In October 2009, the Government asked businesses and individuals to give evidence, by 1 February 2010, for its review of the default retirement age (on the Department for Work and Pensions website).
See the age discrimination chapter in the XpertHR employment law manual (subscription required) for details of the law on retirement.
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