CSPA Campaigning
Older people in the workplace
There is growing evidence of widespread
age discrimination in the workforce,
particularly affecting individuals in their 60s who wish to continue working
As part of Later Life Ambitions we are calling for:
Stronger enforcement of antidiscrimination law, Government-backed skills
programmes for older workers and employer incentives to employ older workers.
Older people in the work place
Many older people want to continue working, but age discrimination and a lack of flexibility can make it difficult to remain in or return to employment.
People in their 60s can face particular challenges if they want or need to work but have not yet reached State Pension age. Outdated assumptions about older workers, alongside barriers to finding suitable employment, can leave people excluded from the workforce and at greater risk of financial hardship.
At the same time, the UK has a significant workforce gap. The Office for National Statistics estimated that around one million people were missing from the workforce due to early retirement and long-term sickness among over-50s in 2023.
Flexible working and more age-inclusive workplaces could help more people stay in work for longer if they choose to do so, while also supporting their financial security and wellbeing.
Budget for Later Life: What we're campaigning for
We want to see practical action to make it easier for older people to remain in, return to or progress in work.
We are calling for:
- Stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination law, with 36% of over-50s reporting that they have experienced ageism at work (CIPD, 2022).
- Government-backed skills programmes for older workers, including opportunities for digital retraining and upskilling.
- Employer incentives to retain older workers, including reduced National Insurance contributions for employers retaining people aged over 60.
Later Life Ambitions
Later Life Ambitions brings together the collective voices of over a quarter of a million pensioners through the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners, the Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance, and the National Association of Retired Police Officers Association.
We aim to encourage today’s decision makers to confront the challenges of tomorrow.
What we're calling for:
This Budget presents our plan for a fairer, more sustainable deal for older people. we urge you to stand with us and add your voice to our calls for a fair deal for living well in later life.
- Protecting the State Pension
- Reducing the tax on pensions
- Tackling the gender pension gap
- Supporting older people in the workplace
- A minimum income guarantee
- Widening access to public transport
- Making housing safe, secure, accessible and adaptable
- Supporting health and social care
