Britain is facing a major turning point in its workforce. According to research, the number of workers aged 65 and over has nearly tripled since 2000, from 457,000 to 1.43 million today. More than one in nine workers in the UK are now working past their 65th birthday, compared with one in 20 back in 2000.
The soaring cost of living and the rising state pension age have a lot to do with it. In April this year, the age at which millions of workers can start claiming the state pension rose from 66 to 67, and it is due to rise again to 68 under current legislation.
While some say they cannot afford to quit their jobs, others say work keeps them young. Regardless, the new reality is that record numbers of people are now working into their sixties, seventies, and even beyond. While a multi-generational workforce can drive innovation, fresh perspectives and blend diverse life experiences, there can also be tension, especially as people find themselves managing far older colleagues.
Here, three anonymous workers reveal what it’s really like working with, and managing, older people.
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