Government calls for evidence on default retirement age
In advance of the Government's review of the default retirement age in 2010, it is asking all interested parties to submit evidence on the workings of the default retirement age.
The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/1031) provide for a default retirement age of 65, which allows employers to retire individuals at 65 or over. The review of the default retirement age will be conducted jointly by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department for Work and Pensions and will consider whether or not the default retirement age of 65 remains appropriate and necessary. The Government announced the review date in Building a society for all ages (PDF format, 636K) (on the HM Government website).
The Government is now seeking evidence to help inform its review on:
- the operation of the default retirement age in practice;
- the reasons that businesses use mandatory retirement ages;
- the impacts, positive and negative, on businesses, individuals, and the economy, of raising or removing the default retirement age;
- the experience of businesses operating without a default retirement age; and
- how any costs of raising or removing the default retirement age could be mitigated and benefits realised.
The closing date for responses is 1 February 2010.
- Default retirement age Information about how to submit evidence is available on the BIS website.
Also
Retirement and Age discrimination The XpertHR employment law manual sets out employees' rights in relation to retirement and age.
Default retirement age on way out despite High Court ruling The days are numbered for the UK's default retirement age despite a recent High Court ruling that it is legal for employers to force workers to retire at age 65.
Policies and documents on retirement The XpertHR policies and documents module includes a letter from an employer notifying an employee of his or her intended date of retirement and the right to request not to retire, and a letter from employer that imposes a retirement age to inform employees that it is removing its retirement age.
