What could employers do to better support those aged over 50?

gagajo all my teacher friends retired at 55.

The lack of older teachers in schools is noticeable.

It must be awful to be managed out.

This seems to be what's happening to my 53 year old daughter.
She's being put under a lot of pressure with some lessons being inspected etc. She teaches ages from 12 to 18 and her pupils have always had good O and A level results. So I'm convinced it's to do with money.
Can the teaching unions help in these situations?
But I think this has been going on for some time. Back in 1990 when I was 54 we were preparing to move to another city and I started applying for jobs. I was invited for interview at one. There were about 6 applicants, 4 aged 20-30, me and a man aged 50+ . He and me were given short shrift and sent home.
I stayed in my old job for a short time then got an early retirement package when we moved.

Must be nice to be able to retire at 55 .

The favourable pensions that used to enable teachers to do that are long gone, unfortunately. Early retirement used to mean retirement in your 50s. Now it's starting to mean anything before 67. Almost 2 decades longer.

Fortunately, UK teachers are in demand overseas. Although it's hard leaving family behind at this time of life.

It's definitely money fennel. I've always had outstanding results from my students, but I now cost the salary of 2 newly qualified teachers. Never mind I have a higher degree in my subject etc etc. With the academy system it's all about profit. Cheap teachers and 35+ children in a class.

You're right, Gillybob.
I know you're self employed so in a different situation. Like my husband, he has never really retired.
I did a few (paid) small part time jobs after 'retiring'.
I missed my full time job, especially the company of my colleagues.

You’re answering your own question GagaJo .
I now cost the salary of 2 newly qualified teachers

There is after all, only so much money to go around .

As for ideas for employers, the only one I can think of is to have more options open for part-time work for older employees.
And did someone mention accepting a lower payscale? Not very flattering, but many workers have big mortgages to pay.

Must be nice to be able to retire at 55 .

Only if that's what you want to do. It should be a personal choice, not something that is forced on people, particularly as at 55 there is another 12 years to go before getting a State Pension.

In Universities, it's virtually impossible to get a full-time job before you are 35 or (usually) older, as you need publications, a Phd and so on before you even get an interview. This makes paying into a pension difficult (or did when I was younger - I think there have been improvements since then), so by 55 most people haven't got nearly enough in their pension to let them retire and survive until they are 67.

Obviously I meant with some sort of pension doodledog . Otherwise it’s not retirement is it ? it’s being out of work .

It can be, but a lot of 'older' people are managed out with voluntary redundancy or pushed towards early retirement whether they like it or not, and the chances of finding equivalent work when you are older aren't great. If you have savings, you don't get benefits, so a lot of people's retirement dreams are shattered, as they end up living on savings to see them through to pension age.

'Some sort of pension' isn't a fair return after years of working. I'd love to see the pension age lowered to 55, with a full pension for everyone who has contributed, but I can't see that happening, unfortunately .

Oh crikey me neither doodledog . My DH and I have a 10.5 year age gap and we had planned to retire when I was 60 and him 70 . Things have changed quite a bit for us recently not least that he is in poor health and I have to care for him but still expected to work until I’m 67.5 ( another 9 years ) .

I agree gillybob. Everything is ok if you have good health.

Gillybob you may need a stable income but you’re not chained to the job you hate. Do you really want to spend ten years being miserable? Find something else to do for your own sake.

That's a shame, gillybob. The pension age rise has affected so many of us in various ways.

Yes gillybob. But the end result of a school with cheap and inexperienced staff and huge classes can be terrible for all concerned.

Everyone earns more after 30 years of experience and ongoing training. Or would you be happy with a totally inexperienced and unsupported oncologist (as a random example) providing your cancer treatment.

It sounds as if you AGREE with the wide scale hounding out of older, experienced teachers!

Im afraid I am chained to the job I hate ExperiencedNotOld and yes I do need an income.

Can you really compare yourself with an Oncologist GagaJo?

If being older means that one thinks they deserve twice the pay (your words GagaJo) then how can a school on a restricted budget , ever be expected to afford to employ many older teachers?

Fair enough, not many gillybob. But none?

Not much of a profession, is it, if you're past it, by 35 (most teachers will be in the upper pay scale by that age)? Not much of a profession if you're only ever worth a lower wage.

My point wasn't that I was the equivalent of an oncologist, it was that every profession needs a balance of experience and new blood. Those who have the experience will obviously earn more. They support and help develop the new entrants.

The schools you are referring to pay their upper management on average over 100k a year, when previously, they would have had a head teacher earning 50 or 60k a year. THAT is why they only hire cheap staff (many have unqualified people teaching, never mind just newly qualified teachers), NOT because they can't afford a few experienced, older teachers.

The answer is to increase the budget, not to pay off teachers when they get older.

Every young teacher will get older one day, and if they are to be retained as teachers then of course they need to be paid appropriately. It is madness to suggest that they should leave, or be managed out, or whatever, to make way for younger ones - why should they do that, and what are they supposed to do instead?

BnQ love oldies! Look in any of their stores, and you'll realise it's like a day center ?

Companies are welcoming of.oldies, as theyre known to be more reliable n.punctusl, more honest, and a good work principle.

It's only in retail that there appears to be a slight stumbling block as SOME companies want a younger profile, even if the clientele are older (MnS springs to mind).

I personally am unable to work anymore due to mental health issues, and physical health problems.

I think if your the right person, you'll get the job. We have so much life skills that younger people lack, plus we still understand what common sense is, and how it operates!

I think if your the right person, you'll get the job.

That gives a lot of scope for discrimination, though. Who decides what the 'right person' should look like, and what can be done if 'the right person' is always under 40?

Also, some younger people have more life skills than some older ones - they don't necessarily come with age, and neither does common sense, whatever that is .

I am lucky enough not to need to work now (and I really do appreciate how lucky I am in that regard), but if my circumstances changed and I did need to go back to work, I wouldn't like to think that I was restricted to serving in places like B&Q simply because of my age. I think the roles that B&Q reserve for older people are right at the bottom of the scale, and wold require physical capabilities (and knowledge of DIY!) that I just don't have.

I had a responsible job, and am still capable of taking responsibility. Younger people expect to be employed on the basis of their qualifications and abilities - why shouldn't older ones?

Also, I'm never convinced by the assumption that older people should look for work in retail. There is no reason why age would confer the skills that retail requires, and not everyone has them. And why would younger people stand aside so that older ones can take retail jobs?