The Civil Service has bucked the move to early retirements in the public sector by confirming that from next year, all staff will be able to continue working beyond the age of 65. The pledge was originally made last year, but applied only to civil servants below senior level. Last week, Cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, promised to extend the pledge to include Whitehall's 3,000 senior managers as well. From April next year, all staff who wish to carry on working after 65 will be able to do so. A Cabinet Office spokesman said it would mean ‘government departments benefiting from their continuing experience and skills.' Sir Gus made the announcement on National Older People's Day last week, ‘to highlight the value of older workers'. Ironically, it was also his 57th birthday. He added: ‘We should not put an artificial and unnecessary cap on the contribution of long-serving, dedicated staff at any grade. ‘I am delighted that we will be freeing-up the potential of our older, senior civil servants to continue to serve. Like any successful organisation, we need people who have experience in key areas, as well as those with fresh ideas, to challenge traditional methods. This announcement demonstrates our commitment to providing greater working flexibility for all civil servants.' Under employment rules, staff have a statutory right to ask to work beyond the age of 65, although in the case of the Civil Service, most retire at 60. Civil Service pension rules were changed in 2007, so new entrants receive a pension based on their average pay over their career, rather than their final salary.
