Employers need to rethink their Retirement Management

At the time of writing, employers can still use the Default Retirement Age (DRA) to retire workers when they reach the age of 65. From 1 October 2011 no employee can be compulsorily retired by an employer when they reach 65 unless that retirement can be objectively justified. This effectively means that the last date upon which retirement notices can be issued using the DRA is 31 March 2011.
 

The proposed changes will have far reaching consequences. Best practice organisations will be planning now, accepting the need to take a fresh look at the management of issues which previously may have had little or no legal risk. However those who fail to make necessary changes in good time may face significant and costly consequences.
 

This issues forum will discuss the implications of the removal of the DRA, including the potential impact in the civil claims arena and will highlight some of the practical issues that employers will need to consider in managing older workers and across the workforce more generally.

(From QBE Risk Management - March 2011)