Survey reveals Britons not aware of age legislation

Many people in the United Kingdom are unaware of the impact that the Age Discrimination Act will have on their working lives, according to a study by Poole, England-based specialist over-50s insurer Castle Cover.

More than two-thirds of the 1,000 surveyed had never heard of the legislation, the study revealed.

Most of those surveyed—65%—said they intended to retire at age 65. Of the 35% of respondents who said they would wish to continue working, most said their desire to stay in employment was for the social nature of the workplace and job satisfaction.

According to a factsheet produced by Castle Cover, the new law, among other things: requires employers who set their retirement age below the default age of 65 to justify or change it; requires employers to consider an employee's request to continue working beyond retirement—and not unreasonably refuse that request; requires employers to inform employees in writing, at least six months in advance, of their intended retirement date; and will remove the upper age limit—previously 65 years of age—for unfair dismissal and redundancy rights.