TAEN – The Age and Employment Network, fully supports the EHRC’s call for the Default Retirement Age to be scrapped. The EHRC’s survey showing increasing support for working beyond State Pension Age is consistent with TAEN’s research over the past two years, feedback from its members and the trends it been observing in employment statistics.

TAEN, and its members, believe that the current regulations are unneeded and contradictory and that the Government should abandon the rules that compel people to give up work when they are enjoying their jobs and under greater financial pressure during the recession.

Chris Ball, Chief Executive of TAEN says:

“It is confusing that we have the Department for Work and Pensions telling us to extend working lives and planning to increase State Pension Age to 68 whilst the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills obliges capable people to retire. TAEN believe that BIS took this stance simply because some employers lack the imagination to work without fixed retirement ages.“

“We do not support the view that a mandatory retirement age is of value to business. Its research confirms this view among employers and countries such as the US manage without it.

“TAEN believes that the time has come for Government and employers to adapt to changing demographics and relinquish their right to fire people just because they have a birthday.”