Civil servants aren’t the retiring type

Fixed retirement ages should be abolished throughout government departments, according to the FDA union for top civil servants.

A survey by the union has found that a quarter of its members aged 55-59, and almost half of those aged 60 and over, want to see an end to the practice in the civil service. Two-thirds said they want to work on because they find their job enjoyable and are committed to it.

Staff in most government departments must retire at 65 — the government’s “default“ retirement age, at which employers can legally dismiss employees on grounds of retirement (see "European court backs fixed retirement age" elsewhere in this issue).

FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume said the union’s research showed that the government should “move with the times and update its policies by abolishing fixed retirement ages”. He added that the government should make the most of its workforce’s motivation by letting them continue to work for as long as they are able.