Send staff off in style when it’s time to retire – resist keeping them on
February 7, 2010 by admin
Filed under Career News and Advice
The management column – straight-talking, common sense from the front line
with John Timpson
Published: 5:41PM GMT 07 Feb 2010
Q I’ve just told a long-standing member of staff who has turned 65 that I
would like him to retire. He’s been a great asset to the business, giving
more than two decades of service, but is now slowing down and becoming less
effective. His job could be done better by someone younger. So when I hear
that the Government is considering scrapping the default retirement age, it
fills me with dread. From your picture I sense that you’ve served your time
at Timpsons. How do you manage an ageing workforce?
A At my age I must phrase this reply very carefully. It all depends on the
inidual. Some people are like Peter Pan while others slow down well
before retirement age.
Let’s be honest, employees who want to work beyond retirement age fall into
two camps – those that you are delighted to keep and others who you can’t
wait to retire. It is much better to have a set retirement date that makes
everyone face up to reality. Most will retire with dignity while a few can
continue with the company’s blessing.
Many of our over-65s work part-time using their experience to train our
apprentices, but we only ever give them a one-year contract so we can …
Read the original article at Telegraph