WIREDGOV

Survey reveals difficulty over-50s face in reaching senior levels
one year after age discrimination became unlawful

The FDA, the union representing top public service managers and professionals, is calling for the government to abolish fixed retirement ages in the civil service in the wake of a survey showing that more than one in four of its members want the right to work beyond age 65.

The FDA survey revealed that one in four of their members aged 55 to 59 and just under half of those aged 60 and above would want an end to fixed retirement ages.

FDA General Secretary Jonathan Baume said:

“Our results clearly show that civil servants are looking for flexibility around when they retire. It is time for the government to move with the times and update its policies by abolishing fixed retirement ages in government departments.”

While some government departments have no set age when workers must retire, employees at most departments – and all senior civil servants – are required to retire at 65 whether they wish to continue working or not.

The survey also revealed that two-thirds of civil servants (66%) wanted to work beyond the age of 60 because they were committed to their job and enjoyed their work.

Baume said: “This is obviously a committed and well-motivated workforce, and we should make the most of that motivation by allowing staff to continue to work for as long as they are capable.”

The survey results also raised the difficulties of getting promoted to senior posts after the age of 50. Comments given showed that while their work had generally been praised, those in this age category have, as one person put it, “missed the boat” when it came to becoming a member of the Senior Civil Service.

Baume said: “Promotion to senior posts must be awarded in open and fair competition, without reference to anything but the ability to do the job."

The right to request flexible working after age 65 appears to have been inadequately publicised across the civil service: only 37% of those aged 60 and over were aware of this right. Only 30% of those aged 60 and above felt confident they would receive adequate support from their employer if they chose to work over the age of 65, and this figure almost halved to 16% for those aged 55 to 59.

Baume said: “There is little point in having a right to ask for flexible working over the age of 65 if employees feel they will only be refused. Employers need to show that they will be supportive."

Encouragingly, when asked if they had personally encountered age discrimination at work, three-quarters of those aged 55 to 59 and just over two-thirds of those aged 60 and above said they had never experienced it.

Those who had experienced age discrimination said that it took many forms, such as inconsiderate reference to age or being patronised (in one case being the target of the terms “old man” and “at your age”), to being demoted or marginalised, with one member being told they were “too old to be considered for certain promotions”.

Baume said: “While we welcome the finding that most members have not encountered age discrimination, inequality of any degree is unacceptable.”

The survey also indicated that the civil service offered training and promotion opportunities for older staff.

Around 86% of those aged 55 to 59 were offered training in recent years and two-thirds of those over 60 received training opportunities. Around half in each age group who applied for promotion received it: 41% of those aged 55 to 59 and 50% of those aged 60 and over.


Notes for Editors

1. One year after anti-age discrimination legislation was introduced - the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 – the FDA wanted assess how these policies have impacted on FDA members and so ran surveys over the summer of working members aged 55 and over.

2. Two surveys were conducted: one for those aged between 55 and 59 and another for those aged 60 and over. The surveys received a very healthy 25% response rate.

3. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 17,000 of the UK’s senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

4. The FDA (formerly First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants’ union".

5. For further information on the survey results contact:
• Oliver Rowe tel: 020 7401 5588 or mob: 07751 366680