Why removing the DRA too quickly may be counterproductive

The Employment Lawyers Association (ELA) has voiced a number of concerns in its response to the government consultation on how the default retirement age (DRA) should be phased out.

The ELA is particularly worried that there is not enough time to develop guidance for employers on how to manage without a default retirement age. The DRA will be removed on 1 October 2011, but in reality employers have just over four months to go because they must give six months’ notice of retirement under current laws. This brings the abolition date forward to 1 April 2011.