The future's grey: older workers on the rise

The new legislation will be welcomed by many. According to research carried out by the EFA, 40% of retired people were forced to stop work against their will. Rose Wainwright is 55: ‘I’m not looking forward to retiring at all. It scares me. I live on my own and the thought of not seeing people at work worries me. I think work is an important part of life and, if it’s taken away suddenly, it could be painful and damaging’.

The abolition of a retirement age is bound to rouse mixed feelings. Emily Jones, 59, has begun the countdown to her retirement and is looking forward to spending time with her grandchildren and garden. Jones is not impressed with the proposed legislation. ‘I think the government’s having a bit of a laugh. They’ll be having us dig our own graves next. When is a person supposed to enjoy life? I left school when I was 15 and I’ve been working non-stop ever since. What kind of life is it if work is seen as the most important thing?’ she argues.

Pensions are another problem for the Government. Everyone is being urged to save for their retirement. Employers are being compelled to offer approved stakeholder pension schemes to all workers. Pensions advisor Martin Green says, ‘The Government has employed that classic tactic – if you want to get something done then get someone else to do it for you. The stakeholder scheme tosses the responsibility of pensions firmly into the lap of the employer’.

How exactly will senior workers fare in the workplace? Do employers really want them? ‘Older people are victim to many stereotypes, such as: they can’t grasp new ideas, are not interested in training, are stuck in their ways, are not a good investment. But these beliefs are simply not based in fact,’ says Bone of the EFA.