Vince Cable Pensioners should go back to work

Schools weed out older teachers and even for private tuition, being older is not favourable.
Years ago our local primary got a new head and he did just that - older, experienced teachers were somehow forced out - they were more expensive than newly qualified teachers, weren't they!

I'm retired. I had two separate careers the first lasted 25 years and then I retrained and worked in a different field for 20 more. I loved working, always worked full time and paid my taxes and NI like everyone else of course.

Then a day came when I had just had enough of it. I'd had an absolute basinful of work and I didn't want to do a day more. I retired and am as happy as a pig in muck doing my own thing now. I get up every morning and do as I please and I feel like I've earned that. Who knows how many mornings I will have and I'm blooming well going to enjoy them.

Bugger work!

I'm in two minds about it. I do resent the fact that I can't draw my pension until I'm 67, whereas my bloke hasn't worked since the age I am now. It isn't fair and it has created an 'us and them' society with current retirees having it much easier than younger generations will have it.

I ten to agree, Gagajo and think the pension age needed to be equalised for men and women, what that should be is a moot point.

However, present retirees are on a lower rate of state pension than those on the new pension rate. My pension is approximately £50 per week less than someone who contributed for the same number of years who is on the new rate.
It's all rather a shambles.

I too did childcare so both parents could work.
The other point is that, if retirees were to become as lazy as this young man imagines they are, then the voluntary and charity sector would collapse.

I don't know who he is, but he sounds like an ignorant troublemaker.

I am 60, semi retired at 50 and retired at the age of 57 and have no intentions of going back to work as Mr. S. retired 3 years ago and we are enjoying this period in our lives.

We are financially independent despite the fact I wont get my state pension until I'm 68. We have lazy days and why shouldn't we?

That is really helpful to know growstuff! Where do you post your teaching materials? TES?

I don't need to do that right now, but it might be useful for the future.

I DO miss being in the classroom with students. Some of my online ones are so lovely, I'd love to teach them in person.

GagaJo I'm 66 and turn down requests for tutoring work. I don't envisage the situation changing over the next few years. The key is to keep up-to-date with curriculum changes. I also earn a little money from writing teaching materials.

It gives my life some purpose too. I can't imagine being fully retired.

So there needs to be a re-think about minimum wage jobs and possibly insurance schemes to pay for child and elderly care.

I'm in two minds about it. I do resent the fact that I can't draw my pension until I'm 67, whereas my bloke hasn't worked since the age I am now. It isn't fair and it has created an 'us and them' society with current retirees having it much easier than younger generations will have it.

However, I cannot imagine wanting to totally give up work. It gives my life purpose. My GS will be grown-up by the time I retire, so no ongoing granny 'duties'.

In addition, one of the organisations I work for actively hires older women, so I can foresee that I will be able to work for them indefinitely. My team leader in the last batch of work I did for them was 70. And it is a gruelling job.

Teaching is a different story. I'm not sure I'll be able to continue teaching/tutoring when I'm really elderly. Schools weed out older teachers and even for private tuition, being older is not favourable.

Vince Cable was my MP for quite a long time. I remember being aghast at his campaign leaflet prior to losing his seat where he stated something along the lines of "I've been your MP for, however long it was, so you might as well stick with what you know" That level of complacency rarely ingratiates anyone and he was no exception. I think he retired soon after.

I didn't see the programme in question but maybe VC should have a word with Mark Ryan whatshisface, who sounds so typical of a certain type of thrusting, full of themselves, ego driven individual beloved by The Apprentice, about taking up some gainful employment, if he hasn't already done so.

LauraNorderr

I do agree with you all, honestly, but just to play devils advocate...
when we supply free elderly care to our parents and free child care for our adult children are we depriving another person of a paid job?

I see your point and yes, in theory we are depriving another person of a paid job.......except many parents couldn't afford to pay the going rate for childcare on the minimum wage they earn, so wouldn't have need of another person's paid employment. As for elderly care, if that would be provided by the state it would be absolutely the minimum required for survival, not the loving care provided by those emotionally vested. It's a complicated issue

I am 69 in February and still work part time in a care home because I enjoy the work and the extra money obviously comes in handy because my pension is a pittance of £652 a month even though I had over 40 years contributions

Yes, but older people are supposed to be wiser and one would hope less likely to engage in tit-for-tat squabbles.

I do agree with you all, honestly, but just to play devils advocate...
when we supply free elderly care to our parents and free child care for our adult children are we depriving another person of a paid job?

Doesn't seem so long ago that older employees were seen as taking up jobs that could be done by younger people. exactly Daisymae but then the older generation are an easy target.

I haven't ever seen this man, but from what I've just read about him I have no wish to correct that. He's had an easy privileged start to life and needs to realise that many, many jobs are physically unsuitable for older people to continue with. They are not lazy and contribute greatly without being in paid positions.

Good grief! Are you actually trying to cause an inter-generational war? well it would appear Mr Parsons has made the first move. Describing older people as lazy isn't coming from a conciliatory place.

None of my child DCs or DGCs think like this. They do occasionally have a little moan and say "We'll be working till we drop because you lot spent all the money." But it's said purely in a spirit of fun because they know that is what some sections of government want them to think. But they know that since I retired I've raised money for charities, done loads of voluntary stuff and provided free childcare. Just because you aren't getting paid to work it doesn't mean you aren't working.

eazybee

I gather this attitude is prevalent among certain sections of the entitled young, particularly those with good qualifications and jobs. They are resentful because their parents' generation had cheap mortgages and free university education and training, and forget that many of them were helped with fees and generous deposits towards first homes.

They are also resentful of older people occupying positions at work they feel they should be theirs, ignoring knowledge and experience in favour of new ideas that they think they have just invented.
They also very much resent the idea that they should start contributing to health care for their old age.

Good grief! Are you actually trying to cause an inter-generational war?

One of the reasons I like the work I do is that it keeps me in touch with younger people and ideas. Thankfully, they're not all consumed by resentment.

Humbertbear

I am retired and I do unpaid work - I am a carer for my DH and for my very elderly mother. In addition I provide childcare for my GC. I contribute to the economy in an unrecognised way as I suspect lots of other people do.

Snap Humbertbear!

Some of us do work unpaid for family and friends - is only paid work to be valued?

I gather this attitude is prevalent among certain sections of the entitled young, particularly those with good qualifications and jobs. They are resentful because their parents' generation had cheap mortgages and free university education and training, and forget that many of them were helped with fees and generous deposits towards first homes.

They are also resentful of older people occupying positions at work they feel they should be theirs, ignoring knowledge and experience in favour of new ideas that they think they have just invented.
They also very much resent the idea that they should start contributing to health care for their old age.

I am retired and I do unpaid work - I am a carer for my DH and for my very elderly mother. In addition I provide childcare for my GC. I contribute to the economy in an unrecognised way as I suspect lots of other people do.

Doesn't seem so long ago that older employees were seen as taking up jobs that could be done by younger people. Since retiring I have provided childcare for GC and now I am a carer. I'm pretty much exhausted.

Grandmabatty

Nobody ever lies on their deathbed and wishes they had worked more, as far as I know. I can't get worked up about a callow youth wagging a finger at people who have worked hard or Vince Cable neither. They mean nothing to me. Monica has the statistics at her fingertips. I retired at 60 from teaching. I was exhausted, physically and mentally and could not have continued. I make no apologies ever for going. I have a number of ailments which will probably carry me off sooner rather than later so in enjoying life now.

Exactly.

Really, I suppose it depends on the job. I retired then went back to work as a RGN. Years of lifting and handling, before aids became the norm, didn’t do much for my back, being put on mainly night shifts finally finished me, as found being on my feet for hours nearly killed me. So unless I could find a job, which involved more sitting than standing,a definite NO from me.

Vince Cable really ought to know better and the young man needs a lesson in economics.

Not worth getting upset about.

Whoever this young man would like me (maybe). I intend to carry on doing paid work until I'm no longer capable, as does my partner.

Nobody ever lies on their deathbed and wishes they had worked more, as far as I know. I can't get worked up about a callow youth wagging a finger at people who have worked hard or Vince Cable neither. They mean nothing to me. Monica has the statistics at her fingertips. I retired at 60 from teaching. I was exhausted, physically and mentally and could not have continued. I make no apologies ever for going. I have a number of ailments which will probably carry me off sooner rather than later so in enjoying life now.