Harman's choice
Article Date: Feb 03 2010The arguments on both sides are well-rehearsed, but something is missing from the retirement debate.
It's become a cliche to talk about the ageing population, the rising cost of healthcare, and the economic inevitability of forcing (sorry, encouraging) people to work beyond the age of 65.
On the other side of the coin, employers are worried that Harriet Harman's proposals to scrap retirement age laws altogether will force them to keep staff on who are really too old to do their jobs, or dismiss them based on declining competence. The point was powerfully put by the Forum of Private Business, whose chief executive Phil Orford recently remarked that such a dismissal would amount to an 'undignified and humiliating end to a career'.
The argument is not so much about how long people ought to work, but where the balance of power should lie between employer and employee. At the moment, companies can dismiss staff at 65 without needing to give them anything more than a pat on the back. Under Harman's proposed changes, the power would shift to the employee to decide when they wanted to bow out. Unfortunately, it's a zero sum game: you can't grant employees more flexibility without giving employers less.
Charlie Mullins, the owner of Pimlico Plumbers, has an opinion on most things, and this is no exception. At GrowthBusiness we always look forward to hearing from Mullins, who in the past month has commented on topics as diverse as the economic recovery, absenteeism and occupational psychology. On the retirement age issue, Britain's richest plumber is particularly revealing. He argues that the current laws amount to 'nothing short of discrimination', adding that he employs a van-washer aged 103 and a garage manager of 82, while his PA Mario is a relative youngster at only 68.
I can see Mullins' point, as I can see the FPB's. But surely there's another point to consider: the value of retirement as a reward for a life of hard work. A time to wind down, work freelance or start a business. Or just to do some gardening. After all, retirees have earned the right.
