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<p>The Government is committed to supporting people aged 50 years and over to remain
in and return to work. The number of older women in work is now at a record high:
there are around 1 million more women aged 50+ in work than in 2010.</p><p> </p><p>Government
has reformed legislation to create the right framework to support Fuller Working Lives.
We have removed the Default Retirement Age, meaning it is now unlawful to dismiss
someone just because they reach age 65.</p><p>We have also extended the right to request
flexible working beyond those with caring needs, meaning people can discuss with their
employers options for allowing choice about how and when they retire. And we have
introduced pensions freedoms, to allow people aged 55 and over greater freedom and
choice in how and when they access their pension savings.</p><p> </p><p>On 2 February
2017 we published Fuller Working Lives: A Partnership Approach, which aims to increase
the retention, retraining and recruitment of older workers by bringing about a change
in the perceptions & attitudes of employers, and to challenge views of working
in later life and retirement amongst individuals. The Strategy and supporting evidence
base are available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>We have also appointed a Business Champion for Older Workers, Andy Briggs,
supported by a team of employers at Business In The Community, to support employers
in retaining, retraining and recruiting older workers. In February 2017, the team
launched a target to gain one million more older people in work by 2022, asking employers
to commit to a pledge to publish their workforce data by age. Their report setting
out their achievements to date was published on 07 September 2017 and can be viewed
at <a href="https://age.bitc.org.uk/issues/BusinessChampion/govreport" target="_blank">https://age.bitc.org.uk/issues/BusinessChampion/govreport</a>.</p>
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