Chris Ball, chief executive of The Age Employment Network in the UK (TAEN), has issued a call for evidence on changes to the national default retirement age. This is the system under which people may ask to continue working after 65 but the employer does not have to accept the request and can require the worker to retire.

In July the UK government announced its intention to bring forward the promised review of the default retirement age (DRA). A stakeholder group has been established, of which Chris Ball is a member on behalf of TAEN, and a call for evidence has now been issued.

“We intend to make a formal submission and would like to include examples either from individuals or organisations, illustrating practical experience of the working of the DRA,” Mr Ball said. “We are clear that it is wasteful, unnecessary and transgresses the rights of individuals to work and earn a living. There are, we are sure, many examples of personal hardship and wasted talent which bring these issues to the fore more vividly than any assembled statistics.

“If you have comments or examples that you think would be useful for TAEN's evidence, please do let us know. We would love to hear from you!”

The consultation is being led by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which said it was particularly interested in:

•    the operation of the default retirement age in practice
•    the reasons that businesses use mandatory retirement ages
•    the impacts (positive and negative) on businesses, individuals, and the economy, of raising or removing the default retirement age
•    the experience of businesses operating without a default retirement age
•    how could any costs of raising or removing the DRA be mitigated and benefits realised?

Evidence and comments can be sent by 1 February 2010 to TAEN at info@taen.org.uk or direct to the Department by post to DRA Evidence, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, V497, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET or by email to draevidence@bis.gsi.gov.uk?subject=DRA%20evidence%20submission