HR directors support retirement age campaign

Fri 17 Oct 2008

Human Resources directors are lending their support to a campaign asking the government to change UK retirement legislation.

Top employees from Asda, the Co-operative group and workforce body NHS Employers, have added their weight to a campaign organised by The Employers Forum and Personnel Today.

David Smith, people director at Asda, said: "We believe that people will decide themselves when they want to retire."

Amanda Jones, head of diversity at the Co-op group noted by removing age restrictions it could now "clearly recognise that talent and contribution isn't dependent on age".

Further support has come from the Public Sector People Managers' Association.

Its president Stephen Moir explained that setting a default retirement age "contradicts the need for flexibility and inclusive approaches to employment".

Currently, the government is only committed to review default retirement age legislation in 2011, rather than remove it altogether.

Unions and some charities have objected to extending the retirement age past 65.


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