Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (Commissioner), David Allen, has signed the Age-friendly Employer Pledge, a free nationwide programme launched by the Centre for Ageing Better to improve the recruitment, retention and development of older workers.
A recent poll commissioned by Ageing Better reveals the scale of ageism in the workplace and demonstrates the urgent need for action. More than a fifth (21%) of UK adults aged 50+ indicated that since turning 50, they had regularly experienced ageist attitudes in the workplace or when applying for roles. And while approximately two thirds (64%) agreed they would feel comfortable in reporting ageist behaviour in the workplace, less than half (42%) said they would be confident any complaint would be taken seriously.
Sky-high labour costs and skills shortages are one of the biggest challenges facing our economy today- the latest ONS statistics revealed over one million vacancies in the final quarter of 2022-3. And with an ageing population, older workers can play a vital role in overcoming this. It has never been more important for employers to become age-friendly and take advantage of older workers’ skills and experience.
By signing the pledge, the Commissioner is demonstrating his support to tackling ageism in the workplace and committing to taking at least one action a year to improve the way they recruit, manage and support older workers. Under the initiative, the Commissioner is a senior sponsor for age-inclusion within his workforce and ensures that age is specifically named within Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies.
Over 100 employers have already signed the pledge, including Virgin Hotels, Osborne Clarke and the Department for Work and Pensions. The Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is proud to be joining other leading organisations in taking action to help older workers flourish in the workplace.
Speaking on the Pledge, Commissioner David Allen, said: “No one should ever feel discriminated against in their workplace or when applying for a new job based on their age.
“All generations bring skills and experience that are vital in building a strong organisation and my Office is committed to ensuring everyone gets a fair chance.
“Around half the employees in my Office are 50+ and I want them to feel valued and know that I will continue to help build their skills and provide them with development opportunities.
“I’m pleased to sign the Age-friendly Employer Pledge and commit to continuing the equal opportunities within the organisation for all employees – present and future.”
Kevin Walsh, Age Friendly Cumberland, said: “I’m really pleased that the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has decided to take the Pledge.
“We want to encourage as many employers as possible to take up the opportunity to consider how they look after their older workforce and how they recruit older people into their workforce.
“Everybody, at whatever age, has a lot to offer and we need to make sure that we are using all the skills of those in our communities.”
Dr Carole Easton, Chief Executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “The pledge has been designed to support businesses to go on a journey at a pace that works for them. By taking manageable and measurable steps, employers will learn over time what steps they need to take to make the biggest difference in their own organisation.
“The labour market is changing and employers are facing huge challenges with skills and labour shortages and near-record vacancy rates. Workers in their 50s and 60s are key to filling these gaps - now, more than ever, the older workforce is the workforce.
“And yet older workers are continuing to leave the labour market in droves. We want to help businesses understand how they can be attractive employers to older workers and reap the benefits of a multigenerational workforce.”
The Centre for Ageing Better supports the network of Age-friendly Employers by providing a full framework of actions to take alongside a range of learning resources and content to help employers make changes within their organisation. Regular newsletters share tips and guidance, while Ageing Better also host webinars where pledged employers can learn and share best practice. Organisations report back to Ageing Better on the progress of their age-friendly actions too.