too old to work?

scottishterrier

Following the Dispatches programme on Channel 4 "Too Old to Work?" 9/2/2009 a petition has been organised to present to Number 10 in July to ask for fairness in the job market.
If you so desire, sign up here and spread the word
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/AgeBarriers/

Sarahsaver

My mum still works and she will be 71 this year.

scottishterrier

Sarahsaver wrote: »

My mum still works and she will be 71 this year.

no age at all! anyway, do mums ever stop?

ceridwen

I meant to watch that programme - but forgot.

I think it could be useful if you put a link for it on here - so that people can see what it had to say about this.

scottishterrier

ceridwen wrote: »

I meant to watch that programme - but forgot.

I think it could be useful if you put a link for it on here - so that people can see what it had to say about this.

no sooner said ...

http://www.channel4.com/documentaries/microsites/D/dispatches/too_old_to_work/index.html

Deep_In_Debt

scottishterrier wrote: »

no age at all! anyway, do mums ever stop?

Nope! My mum is 76 and still working! Not because she needs the money (she doesn't ) but wants to.

Hope I'm as physically and mentally fit as she is at 76 (if I get there!).

seven-day-weekend

Signed it!

ceridwen

Well...that was certainly an interesting tv programme and I certainly personally would be pleased to be as fit as Mrs Motivator - I'm noticeably younger than her and I dont think I could keep up with her:D

Its a difficult situation and I do feel for people who have found that they have lost pension income they have arranged to have - and keep my fingers crossed personally that I dont suffer any more losses to my pension income than have already occurred.

Its very much swings and roundabouts - in a society with a finite number of paid jobs. If there arent enough jobs to go round - and indeed that is clearly now the case - then who gets what jobs there are?

People vary from individual to individual - there will be people in their 20s mooching through their days at work begrudging every second there and doing as little as they can get away with - not knowing how to do their job properly and not caring on the one hand. On the other hand there will be people in their 60s - fit, knowledgeable, positively wanting to do their job.
Its a very rough rule of thumb to use an age indicator when it comes to "rationing out" the jobs available - but I cant actually think of any other way this could be done. I think the Government probably brought in the ability for employers to sack staff at 65 because there were actually the odd one or two Government Ministers that could see the Great Depression Mark II coming and a way was needed to ensure that, as far as possible, those in greatest need of a job had the best chance of getting one. I guess another way of "rationing out" jobs and trying to ensure that those in greatest need were head of the queue would be to have some sort of jobs means-testing - so that those who dont financially need a job were at the back of the queue for one - but I cant see how that could work. So I guess the Government fell back on the most easily administered way.

On the other hand - there is talk of the State Pension Age possibly being raised to 68 at some future point - and this is severely worrying...as it would put pressure on people who regard themselves as retired to continue working whether they like it or not.

To use that phrase "There are no easy answers".

I have seen people mentally-speaking "give up the ghost" and die soon after retirement. On the other hand - what I usually see is people who are delighted to be retired. Personally - I am in my 50s - and will be in the "delighted to be retired" category. I cant wait for all the extra time and freedom. Having always had to have a full-time job I've had to postpone all sorts of things I decide to do until I am retired - as I just dont have the time/energy needed to do them with that job to fit in.

I guess it depends on how one views one's job/career. I have never wanted to work and, since starting work, have experienced virtually every single problem an employee can have in the workplace. With that - and the fact that I have always been poorly-paid - then work has been the bane of my existence for years now. So - I have accordingly been planning my finances for years now on the basis of retiring at 60 - and earlier if I get the chance. Far from still having a mortgage in retirement - the mortgage was paid off before I got to the "early retirement age group" - so that I was ready to go as soon as I could. The bills have been pruned down to be as low as I can get them and I have lots of cheap or free interests/activities lined up ready and waiting for when I have all that extra time that retirement will bring. i have no intention of sitting in front of a tv feeling sorry for myself - new places to see, new people to meet, new things to do - bring it on!

I think its time for a rethink - both on the part of Society as a whole and the retirement age group themselves. Personally - I think of middle-age as when one goes into Wise Crone/Elder Statesman mindset and hopefully younger people might want the benefit of some of the life experience/knowledge we have taken years to gain. In reverse - its pleasing to see the energy and enthusiasm of younger people and I'm pleased to see that I've got a group of friends young enough to be my children - as well as friends in my own agegroup.

Anyone who tries to affect my retirement plans now had better be wearing a suit of armour;) and have a darn good lawyer to hand to try and defend any attempt to steal any more of my pension income:cool:

mumoftwins

My ex husband is 52yrs old and was made redundant from the Construction Industry last year. He has applied for so many jobs in all areas of work, but I have the sneaking suspicion that his age is against him - it really is not fair.

I think if people are fit and want to work then they should be able to no matter what their age.

Have signed the petition too.

ampersand

As have I, as passed on by mot.
Thankyou.

barnaby-bear

scottishterrier wrote: »

Following the Dispatches programme on Channel 4 "Too Old to Work?" 9/2/2009 a petition has been organised to present to Number 10 in July to ask for fairness in the job market.
If you so desire, sign up here and spread the word
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/AgeBarriers/

I'm not convinced all of the problems faced by older job seekers are based on equality/prejudice/fairness etc but that in a recession the jobs available are skewed towards those more suitable for younger/less experienced people...

If companies lay off often it's the more expensive experienced people that go and if those roles go in one company there are probably few similar roles recruiting.

If you are limiting recritment then internal promotions are more likely as these are the only way for existing staff to move up if little expansion so the roles that become available are the lower grades, likewise in uncertain times it's easier to take on temporary cheaper or junior roles and divert more skilled roles to keep existing staff occupied...

So whilst older more qualified workers might be willing to take a hefty pay cut and do the more menial/junior roles - employers may prefer a genuine junior/new entrant as they know if the economy picks up the experienced overqualified guy will be off.