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HR and diversity professionals.
Fuller Working Lives
On 3rd February, the Government published its Fuller Working Lives strategy, with help from 40 leading employers, to promote the benefits of having older employers in the workforce, and encouraging employers to do so.
This approach is absolutely right. We are living longer and being active is good. Older people have the most amazing reservoir of knowledge and experience, and in these times of more agile and remote working, it makes complete sense to harness that amazing talent pool. And with Brexit looming there's a very good chance that immigrations stops filling the gaps quite so neatly as it has done for the last 30 years.
A good carers policy
Is there a downside? Yes, there always is I'm afraid. Social care is an absolute shambles in the UK, and one of the consequences of being able to live and work longer is that there are more and more working carers - people who are in work but have a caring responsibility for one or both of their parents.
If you're an employer and you're engaging with an ageing workforce then you had better have a good carers policy; some backup eldercare and a good advice line in place.
Ben Black
