Over 65 having to reapply for job??!

Judith_W

Hi,

Does any one have any experience of this?
A friend of mine has recently turned 65 and they have told him that he has to re-apply for his job. I don't know if this was agreed to in the contract he signed but it sounds rather dodgy. Company may have to make redundancies in near future.

Is this legal, is this common and if he doesn't get it back again does he have any recourse?

Thanks

LittleVoice

Well it is not unlawful to refuse to recruit someone who is over 65 (if that is the employer's normal retirement age). Forcing retirement at 65 is lawful as long as the proper procedures are followed.

bookduck

I bet they want to force him to retire and then apply again as if they make him redundant he will have less of a claim and less rights.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/4274106/Forced-retirement-could-be-outlawed.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1534948/%27Compensation%27-for-workers-forced-to-retire.html

Judith_W

just so you know, they have forced him to retire and aren't offerring him a replacement job. From doing a bit more research this is legal although very sad

curly_cabbage

I work for a transport company and they do the same make drivers coming up to 65 state if they want to stay on beyond 65 and apply to do so. This has been more inforced recently in my opinon because it cheaper for the compnay to get staff to retire due to age rather than make them redundant because and pay out redundancy money.

McKneff

There is no redundancy entitlement once he reaches 65.

LittleVoice

I think the difference could be between retiring a 65-y-o (no cost of redundancy) or finding another employee redundant (and with consequent cost). However - are bus companies experiencing a downturn which means they need to shed drivers?