Flexibility for older workers could reduce wrongful dismissal

Published on 9 Aug 2010 under category: legal

More flexible practices in the workplace for older employees could prevent cases of wrongful dismissal.
Research published by HSBC this month revealed that more than half (55 per cent) of older people in work do not believe they will completely retire.
The scrapping of the default retirement age has meant that older workers could enter into employment disputes as employers look for ways to downsize workforces.
Commenting on the research, public policy advisor at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Mike Emmott said: "There will need to be more flexibility because it is not just flexibility in working times, but flexibility about the sort of jobs people do."
He added that there would be health and energy issues that could be likely to impact on the kinds of work possible for more mature members of staff.
Employers who are unwilling to accommodate these changes in the workforce could find that workers are more willing to speak out and take legal action.

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