86 year old Secretary sacked

[furryjammies]

There is an article in the DF today about a now 88 year old woman who sacked from her NHS Secretary job for I think fairly spurious reasons at the age of 86. She has won her case for unfair dismissal. Do you think there should be a cut off point for retirement or should you be able to work as long as you want? She wanted to work until 90.

I think secretaries need to work until they are 90 as they don't earn enough to retire. I don't think there should be a cut off point no.

Well in reality not everyone can afford to retire without living on a shoestring.

I think there should be a cut off, at legal retirement age. I'm in HR and private sector contracts I've worked with this all say you'll retire from your position at the age of X .

You should be able to work as long as you want but I suspect that she was getting slower and a bit of a liability.

It's awkward having a member of a team who isn't coping in their job.

I don't think I would be able to carry on working until my 80s and I'm not sure I would be able to keep up to date with new technology - anyway I'm knackered in my early 50s!

@RollerJed Such an arbitrary clause would be unlawful. Are you not in the UK?

I'm in HR and private sector contracts I've worked with this all say you'll retire from your position at the age of X .

I thought that was unlawful.

She could have lived on state pension. Surley she was paying in all those years?

AliyyaJann presumably she would also have had an NHS pension. She must really have loved her work.

I work in the private sector, last week I started a 60 year old woman I had previously interviewed. Viva la vida!

She did well to hang onto I for that long. Was she capable to do the job?

AliyyaJann could you live on about £600 a month?

TheFirstRuleOfFightClub big age difference though - she won't get her state pension for 6 or 7 years.

If someone is capable of doing the job they should be allowed to continue. I didn't think you could forceably retire someone in the UK anymore, I hope you are not in HR in the UK rollerjed

I'll probably be flamed for this but I'm a big girl.
I think its selfish for people to work past their retirement age.
Theres not enough jobs as it is. You've got to turn in sometime.

Girlsnightin they said she had made a few serious errors but if she had been younger presumably she would have been given additional training. I would also worry about jobs for youngsters if retirement age was late 80s.

How outrageous that you are arguing for age discrimination!

When I worked in hospitality, all contracts stated that "employees wishing to continue working with the company past retirement age must seek permission in advance".

No idea now if it's legal or not but it was accepted by all. A global company too.

Awwlookatmybabyspider I would rather be skint and live off beans than work any longer than I have to - another 14 years and counting!

AngelaHodgeson unfortunately age discrimination is a fact of life.

You can't force someone to retire.. it has to be done voluntarily like a resignation.

You could get someone old who gets a bit doddery and ends up being managed out via a performance route.

That's great @TheFirstRuleOfFightClub and I don't even think 60 is that old to be working!

I started my present job at 64 and the average age of our team of 5 is 56.

I don't know if I'd like to still be working when I'm in my 80s but I can't imagine I'll ever have enough money to retire

could you live on about £600 a month?

Yes I'm a homeowner.

When I'm elderly I won't need to eat much or go many places. I could easily save some for the grandkids' Xmas and birthdays.

AliyyaJann not sure how it works but with pension credits etc. my DM gets double that.