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Original poster

Rishi wants the over 50s back to work, which are the companies clamouring for over 50s employees?

177 replies

StarInTheHeavens · 12/01/2023 11:25

I never hear about a shortage of over 50s staff so who are the companies that will absorb this workforce?

OP posts:
Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 12/01/2023 22:14

@Lollygaggle just like me then, but I'm taking my dental pension at 60, had pay out fro endowment at 55, which enables the part time job. I would rather live on less for longer than be burnt out. DH will get state pension when I'm 60, our mortgage is paid off our DD will hopefully be finishing training by then too,

LolaSmiles · 12/01/2023 22:16

In schools I've watched my older and more experienced colleagues leave, either by choice to do something else once their children have flown the nest, or they've been bullied out.

There's a lot of schools where most middle and senior leaders are in their 30s.

pinneddownbytabbies · 12/01/2023 22:19

Mistlewoeandwhine · 12/01/2023 20:16

I’m 52 and still working. I probably will be until at least 66/67. Who are all these happily retired 50 year olds?

I think they fall into broadly three categories:

  1. The comfortably-off, who have a lovely pension and a nice life.
  2. Those who have had to stop work to act as unpaid carer for their elderly parent.
  3. Those who have had to take early retirement for health reasons, or because they are so utterly burned out they can't stand it any more (ask any number of teachers and NHS staff for instance).

2 and 3 wouldn't be able to return to work anyway.

And as for group 1? Are they going to give up their leisurely lunches, long cruises, and golfing weekends, and browing the shelves of Waitrose so they can go back to work? No. Of course not.

Mincepiepies · 12/01/2023 22:23

How many retired over 50s are clamouring to get back to work? ! Not many. It’s just another example of Rishi being clueless.

giggly · 12/01/2023 22:28

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 12/01/2023 20:41

re nurses doctors dentists etc over 50 and certainly over 60; 12 hour shifts are really hard as you get older in any job also with menopuase often comes poor sleeping made even worse by combinations of early and late shifts, I reckon more would stay in NHS if there was a way of working shorter and more predictable hours without adverse effects on pension, like your pension may actually worse if you work only 2-3 days a week from 59-62, then if you retired at 59 completely as a FT employee
I retired as a dentist just before covid I am not going back as I was tired by 4pm every single day I always was a morning person but I could cope with working late until menopause now I just can't I asked if I could finish at 3pm no you have to do late nights, I Knew I couldn't so I left, also it wouldn't have been great for the patient however convienient at 6pm-7pm appointment is if you dentist is too tired it is not safe now work part time for myself in antiques until I collect pension at 60, was in grave danger of burnout

This is absolutely me, 56 year old nurse working 9-5 , Mon-Fri. Never have a lunch break unless chucking a sandwich down my throat in between patients counts so on the go for 8 hours. This is on menopause insomnia of about 4/5 hours sleep a night.
I am absolutely exhausted and every day try to figure out a way to reduce my hours without knackering my pension.

Shinyandnew1 · 12/01/2023 22:34

The problem with what Rishi wants here is that he, and the companies, want the experience and expertise of a 50 year old with 30 years work experience, but the salary of a junior apprentice.

Yes! They sure as hell don’t want to pay teachers in their fifties £40k+ when they could pay someone young £28k. I would imagine paying them on the unqualified teacher scale would be even more popular!

namechangeforthisoneeee · 12/01/2023 22:46

Coffeecreme · 12/01/2023 20:55

if they have taken early retirement, say they have been working for 30 years and have a pension, why on earth should they work if they dont want to!

He's not suggesting it's compulsory is he? I thought was just like an option if they wanted to. I may have read wrong tho

Monjardin12 · 12/01/2023 22:49

I'm 69 and my poor health means I'll never work again.

AngelinaFibres · 12/01/2023 22:49

pinneddownbytabbies · 12/01/2023 22:19

I think they fall into broadly three categories:

  1. The comfortably-off, who have a lovely pension and a nice life.
  2. Those who have had to stop work to act as unpaid carer for their elderly parent.
  3. Those who have had to take early retirement for health reasons, or because they are so utterly burned out they can't stand it any more (ask any number of teachers and NHS staff for instance).

2 and 3 wouldn't be able to return to work anyway.

And as for group 1? Are they going to give up their leisurely lunches, long cruises, and golfing weekends, and browing the shelves of Waitrose so they can go back to work? No. Of course not.

Show quote history

We are group 1. Hell will freeze over before I set foot in a classroom again. My husband's job caused him so much stress he became ill. He got himself made redundant at 54 and claimed his pensions at 55. He is 60 and happier and healthier than ever. He does the odd bit of very well paid consultancy work, usually over the phone, but will never return to proper work. Nothing Richi Sunak could offer would change our minds.

ttcstop · 12/01/2023 22:50

We often employ over fifties - they have a wealth of experience

icanneverthinkofnc · 12/01/2023 22:58

I wish I could retire! 56 and no chance of it. My own fault for poor decision making when I was young having DC

I have changed jobs twice in tha last 12 months, no problem getting a job at all but all my jobs have been retail so low paid.

If someone wants to employ a unqualified middle aged woman on 50k+ let me know 😉

BrightBlueFlamingo · 12/01/2023 23:06

My DH was head hunted at 59 but the industry is quiet so I'm expecting bad news any day now😪. Also where I work the second in charge said she can't imagine anyone would want to do/be capable of my job over 50. I disagree but it doesn't take a genius to see where this is going.........I'm 53😔

emptythelitterbox · 12/01/2023 23:10

Mistlewoeandwhine · 12/01/2023 20:16

I’m 52 and still working. I probably will be until at least 66/67. Who are all these happily retired 50 year olds?

I'd say women who have an older spouse who retired from a big job, might retire in their 50s.

emptythelitterbox · 12/01/2023 23:15

Howmanysleepsnow · 12/01/2023 20:30

But, having gone off on that tangent…. Nurses over 50 would definitely still be a very attractive prospect.

I couldn't imagine being a ward nurse at age 60.

The physical requirements, hours, and injury risk wouldn't be worth it.

Had a neighbor in her early 70s who still did 3 days a week in a small hospital.

DorritLittle · 12/01/2023 23:20

Suspect he is talking in code about industries with massive shortages, like drivers and NHS staff.

WeAllHaveWings · 12/01/2023 23:20

54 and counting the days to retirement. 2712 working days to go 😫

Appalonia · 12/01/2023 23:23

I'm in my fifties and haven't worked for a good few years due to caring for my dad who had dementia. I feel like a dinosaur as skills needed are so different now.

Thesonglastslonger · 12/01/2023 23:23

I applied for an internship recently, specifically aimed at getting people back into work after a career break. I’ve got two degrees and lots of relevant experience, and although I’ve been out of the job market for a decade, I’ve filled that time with volunteering and running a small business, I still have ‘skills’ like website building and excel etc.

Didn’t even get an interview. Everyone they hired (I can see online) was much younger than me and their ‘career breaks’ were 2-3 yrs max. Huh.

ArcheryAnnie · 12/01/2023 23:24

NomDePrune · 12/01/2023 20:41

There are quite a few civil service vacancies and they don't discriminate. I joined at 57 and I'm the 3rd oldest in my team. Age really isn't an issue here and although the pay isn't amazing it's very secure with good benefits.

May I ask what you mean by the civil service? I really do need to move jobs, and was both heartened and intrigued by your post!

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 12/01/2023 23:25

I'm mid 50s and have worked full time for 35 years... can't WAIT to retire. Not likely to happen for years yet! If I could afford to retire I would. Can't see many over 50s wanting to go back to work... there are very few 50
Something women where I work...

closingloop · 12/01/2023 23:26

And so they should. The idea of working for 30 years and then retiring for 30 years is insane. Pensions were initiated for people that lived for 4 years over life expectancy to allow them to retire. That's around 80 now.

And that's why the country is in crisis. Really long expensive retirements of ill old people costing the NHS so much to treat. Harsh but true.

pigsinoodies · 12/01/2023 23:28

Soylent Green - that's the answer.

babsanderson · 12/01/2023 23:28

I know two NHS employees who have left. One my husband works elsewhere and would never work for the NHS again. My sister who was a nurse has retired at 60 and would never go back.
To be honest the public sector have been treated like shit. No wonder people walk away if they can.

Redblanky · 12/01/2023 23:29

I've just taken on a man of 68.

Lots of businesses struggling to recruit, admittedly if I'd had another equally stong candidate he might not have got the job, but I didn't and that's the point. Lots of jobs need filling.

babsanderson · 12/01/2023 23:30

@closingloop Who is doing that? I have worked full time since 16. By the time I retire I will have worked for 50 years. I will probably be retired for about 12 to 15 years before I die.