Becoming a Pensioner - Retiring

A pensioner is generally an older person who is drawing their pension (hence the phase pensioner) having retired from work. It is usual for a person to agree the date at which they will retire from their job with their employers before this time. However, there are a lot of things to think about before this day arrives.

For the sake of employment rights there will be a set age at which people working in a sector usually retire and this is the same for men as for women. Some industries will have a set age but if this isn't the case it will be assumed to be at age 65. In order for the retirement age to be lower than this the employer has to 'objectively justify' the reason for this. For example this may be given as a lower age due to health and safety (i.e. if working in a high risk occupation) and they must show that the risks could not be lowered in any other way than reducing the retirement age. It is not easy to justify a retirement age below 65 and an employer needs to give evidence to support this rather than just claims.

People often ask if they can be forced to retire by their employers. The law on age discrimination dictates that an employer can only retire you if it can be seen to be both necessary and appropriate to do so. They do have the right to retire you however at the normal (or state) age providing that they follow a given procedure. This procedure involves;

Firstly, a requirement that your employer gives you at least 6 months notice of your intended retirement date.

Secondly, that you are given a chance to ask to work beyond your retirement date and that your employer gives this due consideration.

If an employer is seen to retire a person before the given age of 65 (or the industry equivalent) it can be seen as unfair dismissal and age discrimination.