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EFA says
that Government and employers must understand what motivates people
so they can influence individual decisions about work and retirement.
Smarter communication and offering tailored incentives to each group
will be essential.
The research reveals four types of worker (Rooster, Workhorse,
Sheepdog and Cat), whose attitudes are determined less by their age than
their education, skills and the type of work they're doing.
-
Roosters
make up 31% of the workforce. This group is focused, flourishing,
well-educated and happy. Despite this, Roosters want to leave work and
retire as soon as possible.
-
Workhorses are 21% of the workforce. This group feels undervalued
and unfulfilled, is unhappy at work and looks forward to retirement
(only 3% of Workhorses are happy to work until they are 70).
-
Sheepdogs make up 27% of employees. They are conscientious but
cautious. They see work as a significant part of their social life. The
idea of stopping work to retire doesn't make sense to Sheepdogs, but
many feel that the physical nature of the jobs they do will prevent them
from working longer.
-
Cats
(21%) have an easy-come, easy-go attitude to work. They are laid-back,
confident and successful at work, and very much 'go their own way'. They
are likely to have a similar attitude to retirement.
For
further information and a copy of the report, Attitude not Age, contact
Lizzie Barrett on 020 7622 8252.
2. Listen to the Jury
This year (2005) Age Concern England set up a Citizens’ Jury on
the issue of pensions reform. With the Pensions Commission due to
publish its final report in winter of 2005, Age Concern chose to run a
Citizens’ Jury - a unique way to engage the public in deliberation about
issues of national concern.. A nationally representative group of 18
members of the public met in Sheffield in July to consider this critical
policy issue.
The context:
-
In the UK
we are living for longer but having fewer children.
-
There are
many more pensioners in addition to an ageing workforce, coupled with a
low level of support through the state pension and many employers moving
away from final salary schemes.
-
Expectations of quality of life in retirement are increasing, yet there
is a substantial gap between the amount many people are saving and the
income they want to enjoy in retirement (this is especially true of
babyboomers).
-
Serious
inequalities are experienced by a number of groups including women,
people from black and minority ethnic groups and carers.
-
Although
expenditure on benefits such as Pension Credit has increased, the Basic
State Pension continues to lose value in relation to general living
standards.
The Jury:
Jurors were deliberately selected to have no professional knowledge of
the pensions system. Their task was first to agree on the principles
that should underpin any reforms and second to examine these choices and
come to a consensus on the way ahead.
Over two days they heard evidence from pensions experts and lay
witnesses; they considered the policy positions of interest groups,
including trade unions, the insurance industry, businesses and equality
organisations.
How the Jury responded:
-
The Jurors
approached the subject with excitement and enthusiasm - despite
initially feeling unconfident and ill-equipped. “It’s good that (we)
might be able to influence something.”
-
Everyone
acknowledged the importance of pensions, for themselves, friends and
families and society as a whole.
-
They
grappled with the complexity of the different systems but there was no
suggestion of pensions being dull!
-
There was a
high degree of consensus across the Jury despite their differences, in
age, income and lifestyle.
-
There were
some initial differences in attitudes between the age groups, with the
under-35s particularly sceptical about the value of saving into pensions
(as opposed to other vehicles).
-
As the Jury
progressed there was substantial agreement across the age range as to
the need for reform (and the actions required). Many feared that their
children and grandchildren were at risk of being worse off than today’s
pensioners, and the older Jurors were keen to impress on younger members
the importance of saving for retirement.
The
Jury’s Charter
-
A liveable
income for all.
-
A
simplified system which everyone can understand.
-
Equality,
so that the role of women and carers is recognised in retirement.
-
Long-term
solutions, rather than ‘tweaking’ the current system.
-
Changes
which are sustainable beyond the current government, a cross-party
agreement.
-
Increases
in levels of public trust and confidence in private pensions providers
and the government.
3.
Put women on an equal footing
One in five single women pensioners now lives in poverty and just
16% of women qualify for a full basic state pension on their own
contributions compared to 78% of men.
Without urgent Government action, tomorrow's pensioners will face the
same fate. And despite high divorce rates, worrying new research by
ICM for Age Concern reveals that a third of young women plan to rely on
their partner for a pension.
The research also reveals massive public support for a shake-up of
the system to put women who care on an equal footing with those in
traditional paid employment. As the Government kicks off discussions on
pensions, this research is a clear signal that the public wants radical
pension reform:
-
Just 22%
believe the current system is fair and shouldn't be changed.
-
75% want
carers or those in part-time or low-paid work to have their contribution
recognised in the same way as full-time employment.
-
61% believe
that the Government should reduce the number of years needed to qualify
for a pension or introduce a pension based on residency.
The
current system, unchanged since the 1940s, is rigid and inflexible for
people with non-traditional working patterns. And it's women -
particularly carers, full-time mothers and low-paid or part-time workers
- who miss out the most.
Women need to be at the heart of the pensions debate.
Age Concern and the Fawcett Society have been jointly campaigning for
the Government to tackle the scandal of female pensioner poverty since
2003. Two reports have been published 'One in Four' (Feb 04) and 'A
Blueprint for Reform' (April 05) and are available from
www.ageconcern.org.uk
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