Mandatory Retirement: A Hot Potato

tory retirement is a political hot potato today. Peopleto retire at 60 or 65. Although these educators are
are living longer and staying healthier thanks to thefully capable of working in the areas of their
advances in medical services. The retirement age forexpertise, they are forced into mandatory
social security keeps moving backward, youngerretirement. They get a head start on enjoying the
people can not retire until they are 67 and by theretirement living life style, ready or not.
time they get to that age if will move again. ManyAnother reason given is to make room at the top
professions have mandatory retirement ages forfor younger employees to move up the corporate
example: pilots, military, education, and otherladder so they may bring fresh ideas for a sustaining
professions. Some companies have mandatorythe company in a global economy. These are all
retirement ages as low as 55. Some employeesissues that are unsolvable at local levels and need to
celebrate their 60th birthday and join thebe resolved at legislative level. Were would this
unemployment line on the same day. Not a happycountry be if every politician had to retire at the age
day for the employee. Regardless how or why itof 65. Senator McCain would not be running for
happens these employees join the ranks of thepresident and many other politicians would be
those enjoying retirement living.enjoying life in the retirement living community of
The common reason given by companies is healththeir choice. This issue needs to be resolved as the
insurance rises with age. Sound like age discrimination?large number of baby boomers begins to overwhelm
Maybe or maybe not, but they join their friendsthe retirement living communities.communities have
enjoying retirement living. That is an issue thatbecome the location in which many retirees find
resounds throughout the world. We are not the onlythemselves today. With the large number of baby
country dealing with the issue. Canada just recentlyboomers entering the retirement window, these
passed a new law that allows workers to workcommunities are big business. A recommendation
beyond 65 if they want. Prior to this law Canadianswould be to band several people who have been
were forced into mandatory retirement at 65. Otherforced into mandatory retirement and have the
reasons that people are forced into retirement arenecessary skills to form a company that designs and
mainly meeting the physical requirements of the job.constructs retirement living facilities. This is a fast
Police officers, fire fighters, and other firstgrowing business today. One thing I am sure that the
responders must pass an annual physical fitness test.first thing in the company employee manual is that
Fail the test and they are forced into retirement.there is no mandatory retirement age requirement.
Truck drivers must pass a physical every 2 years toAt least as a minimum they will ensure that the
maintain their commercial driver’s license.owners will not be forced into retirement.
Another profession is education; many are required