Extracts from an article in SHP: The Government’s proposal to allow workers to continue in their job past the age of 65 will cause a health and safety headache for employers, some stakeholders are warning. "In the absence of a default retirement age, the only viable option available to an employer is a capability dismissal based on the declining competence of the worker. We believe this would be an undignified and humiliating end to a career for most staff.” I'd be interested in the community's view on this issue; how can someones competency be based on their age? I have a memeber of staff who is 72 and is probably the best asset in terms of human resource, that I have.

dont forget that employers make a lot of money from their PAYE employees prior to 65 and they may lose this free £ if people work beyond 65 so perhaps this 'free money' point is one of the reasons behind the arguement to stop average people working on

While I do agree with much of what stephen says, I'd like to mention my sister. She's lived in the USA for over 40 years now, and has just retired age 70. The system they have doesn't stipulate a fixed retirement age, but neither does it make adequate provision for retirement. She has worked all her life, and at times has done extremely well financially, but a recent events on the stock and property markets have nobbled her private pensions and knocked her cash flow, so she's had to keep working. And I think that's my beef really, if this is an invitation to keep working if you want, I wholly approve, if it's advance notice of the government's intention to make us keep working because we must, then I have my doubts. My sister was working with blood and circulatory problems, rotator cuff syndrome, tinosynovitis and arthritis. Now she's retired she's decided to get some of these sorted out, prior to this she didn't have the time, John

Capability - now theres an issue I have been asked by an HR manager to assist in completeting a risk assessment and capability assessment so that they could 'let a guy go' HR manager said under MHSWR all employees had to be capable, she did not seem to think training was a need at all! Capability - the ability to perform a task to the required standard repeatedly At 81 my father in law still plays golf - now 24 h'cap not his original 18 - still tough to beat - seems he's still capable, mind you he retired at 62, perhaps he's found the balance Andy