Age Equality Regulations - Civil Service to scrap mandatory retirement age

Written by Ian Congreave - Filed under: Employment Law, Equality and Discrimination on October 8th, 2009

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Following quickly on the heels of the High Court decision on 25 September to allow age 65 to remain as the designated retirement age for age equality purposes – at least for now – the Cabinet Secretary announced on 30 September that a mandatory retirement age will be scrapped across all levels of the Civil Service, including the most senior levels.

From April 2010, all staff wishing to continue working after age 65 will be able to do so. The reasons given by Sir Gus O’Donnell for this decision are interesting in the context of the Government’s promised review, during 2010, of age 65 as the designated retirement age. He says “We should not put an artificial and unnecessary cap on the contribution of long serving, dedicated staff - at any grade. Like any successful organisation we need people who have experience in key areas, as well as those with fresh ideas to challenge traditional methods.”

Further information:

Civil Service goes retirement free