Organisations in both the private and public sector need to redefine job roles in order to avoid age discrimination and encourage more people into work.
Speaking at an evidence session today (February 22) on the state pension age review, John Cridland, first independent reviewer of the SPA (2016-17) said a cultural change in the world of work had a big part to play in pensions.
Cridland was asked about his workforce proposals in the context of increased mobility as people are living longer.
In his report he outlined the key things which needed to happen: afford a longer life, work longer in order to afford that longer living life - if people were able to do so - and the need to be encouraged to do that.
For those who couldn't, there needed to be more dedicated help, which he said the government strategy has already been doing.
“That is part of the solution,” he said. “Some will be able to do it. Some will not be able to do it. We must not expect those who cannot do it to do it.
“I don't think we've put enough attention on the increasing responsibilities for elder care that lie on children in relation to their own parents. There should be statutory care leave.
“People should not be penalised if they take on a caring role in terms of their pension entitlements and the government has tried to tackle that, but there's big issues about take up.”
Cridland argued that there is a huge responsibility on employers to “step up to the plate” in the way that they had to in the last part of the previous century, around maternity and paternity.
He explained that there was a time when it was typically working mothers and then people realised it was perfectly possible with a bit of give and take on each side for people to be able to work and bring up children.
“I think we're going to face the same thing with elder care responsibilities, and employers must get their head around that,” he said.
“Maybe somebody needs to step out for two years or five years and then come back. Maybe they need to work two days a week rather than five days a week.
“I don't think many in private sector or public sector organisations have yet got their head around how job roles can be redesigned, to focus on the productivity that comes from what's in people's heads rather than their knees.”
This comes as earlier this month, the government confirmed that the SPA review will be published by May.
In a letter to Stephen Timms, chair of the work and pensions committee, pensions minister Laura Trott said work was "well underway" on the review.
She wrote: "We are of course considering the full range of evidence to reach decisions that are robust, transparent and provide fairness to both taxpayers and future pensioners.
"This includes the evidence from the Government Actuary’s report and the independent report led by Baroness Neville-Rolfe.
"We are planning to publish both the Government Actuary’s report and the independent report no later than the government’s report. Although this is a different publication schedule to the last review, the issues are still under consideration and so we think this approach is more appropriate."
For the 2017 review, the report was published a few months prior to the government decision however has not yet been done this time.
sonia.rach@ft.com
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