Sixty. Even worse.
You talked a lot about the generous pension plan, but I would think people have other reasons for wanting to work, as well. They may enjoy working, they may wish to realize their potential or they may want to earn a living. Not every company offers the same generous pension benefits you do. A situation that often comes to mind is that of a stay-at-home mom who, after raising her children, decides to embark on a second career and ends up being hired by an organization like yours much later in life. She already knows that she will have to leave that job at the age of 60. Nevertheless, she may still want to work past that age and may still have the skills to do so. Does the bona fide occupational requirement (BFOR) not ensure that the employer can retain its employees, on the one hand? On the other hand, I do not think an employer could be required to keep an employee who did not meet the job requirements.
A bit earlier, Mr. Madower, you said that the armed forces needed skilled and healthy people. If a member of the military no longer meets the organization's requirements, the employer is not required to retain that employee. In my view, legislation already exists to that effect.
I am glad to be part of the workforce at a time when we are talking about changing the mandatory retirement age, because older people are increasingly healthy nowadays. So they can keep their jobs. What are the main reasons for keeping the mandatory retirement age? Pension plans? Career opportunities for the next generation? Are those the reasons? Does an employer not have to ensure that the person doing the job has the right skills for that job? Employers would do better to keep their employees and to leave it up to them to decide when to leave. It is basically society's choice to give people the freedom to decide. Yes, there are costs involved, but is it not worth it in the end?
I would like to hear your thoughts on that.