Businesses are being encouraged to retrain and recruit older workers and presents the benefits of a fuller working life.

‘Fuller Working Lives: a partnership approach’ explains how as the population ages, employers need to draw on the skills and experience of older workers to avoid loss of labour. It also explains how working longer can improve the health and well-being of individuals and bring the benefits of a multi-generational workforce to businesses. It sets out a number of new recommendations directly from businesses to support older workers to remain in the workforce and to help employers retain, retrain and recruit older workers so they have fuller working lives.

Recommendations around flexible working, retraining for a new career, self-employment, volunteering and phased retirement are put forward in the policy paper.

Legislation has already been introduced to support Fuller Working Lives, including the removal of the Default Retirement Age and the introduction of the right for everyone to request flexible working.

The government intend to take the following actions to support older workers:

• publishing a wide range of evidence to outline the benefits of working longer and harnessing the power of a truly multigenerational workforce
• providing additional help for groups who may need more support getting into and staying in work, including people with long-term health conditions and disabilities
• putting control of adult skills budgets in the hands of learners and employers, and achieving 3 million apprenticeship starts in England by 2020 – a commitment that apprenticeships are as accessible as possible to people of all ages and backgrounds
• continuing to develop the support available through jobcentres for older workers, demonstrated by Older Claimant Champions being introduced in all Jobcentre Plus districts

Download the report here fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach (PDF file)

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