Working after reaching retirement age

xendistar

Hi, I reach retirement age in around 18 months and at this stage I have not decided what I am going to do (retire or carry on working). I also do not know what my companies policy regarding working on after reaching retirement age is. So I thought before I approach the company I should get some fact of what I can and can't do. My job is IT, desk based so I know they can not force me out based on my age or fitness. But what if I wanted to reduce my hours, say by 30% am I legally entitled to so??

Sorry if this is pushing the boundaries of the forum as I realise that the forum deals more with the financial aspect or retirement, but any info you can pass on even if its is details of a more suitable forum to ask this question I would appreciate the information

ColdIron

xendistar said:

But what if I wanted to reduce my hours, say by 30% am I legally entitled to so??

You can certainly ask. My employer in IT was happy to let me go down to 4 days which I did for 5 years but not 3 so it gave me the impetus to retire

daveshep26

xendistar said:

Hi, I reach retirement age in around 18 months and at this stage I have not decided what I am going to do (retire or carry on working). I also do not know what my companies policy regarding working on after reaching retirement age is. So I thought before I approach the company I should get some fact of what I can and can't do. My job is IT, desk based so I know they can not force me out based on my age or fitness. But what if I wanted to reduce my hours, say by 30% am I legally entitled to so??

Sorry if this is pushing the boundaries of the forum as I realise that the forum deals more with the financial aspect or retirement, but any info you can pass on even if its is details of a more suitable forum to ask this question I would appreciate the information

I believe part-time working is amongst better  (semi-) retirement solutions if it really suits the individual, it's probably the optimal financial solution you want to pursue that model,

There is no absolute right to be granted flexible working (ie part-time)arrangements by your employer, but there are new obligations on employers (and employee rights immediately on day one) as from early April  '24:    <<https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/guides/requesting-flexible-working-guide/ >>  

Andy_L

xendistar said:

Hi, I reach retirement age in around 18 months and at this stage I have not decided what I am going to do (retire or carry on working). I also do not know what my companies policy regarding working on after reaching retirement age is. So I thought before I approach the company I should get some fact of what I can and can't do. My job is IT, desk based so I know they can not force me out based on my age or fitness. But what if I wanted to reduce my hours, say by 30% am I legally entitled to so??

Sorry if this is pushing the boundaries of the forum as I realise that the forum deals more with the financial aspect or retirement, but any info you can pass on even if its is details of a more suitable forum to ask this question I would appreciate the information

Yes/No/sort of. You have the right to request it and your employer can only refuse an application "if they have a good business reason for doing so." But if they dont want you to do it it's not particularly difficult to come up with a good reason

https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working

zagubov

As suggested, you're entitled to ask. You may have to justify it to them, e.g. you've family commitments/dependant relatives needing support.
You can remain an asset to your company, passing on your experience and keeping the workforce humming on by being flexible. They'll get a bigger benefit from you than the fraction they'll be paying you for.
You'll get the benefit of earning when you'd otherwise be spending, keeping social connections going, etc.
But as the other posters have said it might just be the case they can't make it work and they'll just tell you no.
It can sometimes help if you know someone else wanting to do the same thing so you can make a case for a jobshare.
I hope it all goes well for you. I'll soon be entering my seventh year of post-retirement work, most of it part-time and it's working really well for me.
Do check what access you'll get to your pension. I took mine straight away and am building up a new one; great for financial security, and if you postopone collecting it you might never get it all.

barnstar2077

If you do end up applying to drop down in days, it is a good idea to say why you don't think it will impact the company.  When I applied I stated I was doing so for health reasons, and that the company could increase the agency hours for the day I was off, as they might, for example, if I was on holiday, or off sick for any length of time etc.  It was approved quickly for me, but I am hardly indispensable!  :  ) 

BillyT57

I reached State Pension age last April. Carried on working but reduced my working week to four days this January. Best thing I've done in a long time. I suggested a three month trial, which my employer was happy to try, and it's just been confirmed as permanent.

Redundancy looks likely in the next month or so but I'm working for something to do rather than for the money.

lisyloo

In your job you may well be more productive on those 4 days than you are on 5, so that's a suggestion you could make to your employer - they'll get more bang for their buck.
They don't have to agree - if for example certain core hours need to be serviced.

Any enlightened employer in your profession would be wise to keep you happy to keep your skills.
I've been around long enough to know that just because it makes sense doesn't mean it will happen.

Albermarle

Hi, I reach retirement age in around 18 months and at this stage I have not decided what I am going to do (retire or carry on working). I also do not know what my companies policy regarding working on after reaching retirement age is

There is no such thing as a 'retirement age' in the UK ( since 2011). Your companies policy is irrelevant, they have to follow employment law.

Can I be forced to retire? | Work & Learning | Age UK

atush

My OH dropped to a 4 day week a few years before he retired.  Had a 3 day weekend, longer holidays and loved the new W/L balance.

ColdIron

atush said:

My OH dropped to a 4 day week a few years before he retired.  Had a 3 day weekend, longer holidays and loved the new W/L balance.

Yes, one of the best things I did. I didn't notice the shorter week too much (except on Friday mornings) but I really noticed the 3 day weekend. It dropped me out of higher rate tax so I barely noticed the loss of income either

My advice? Just do it