'We Don't Stop Playing Because We Grow Old' – Albert Einstein
The Digital Era was supposed to release all of us from the daily grind of work, with the promise of increased leisure all round. To learn there are increasing numbers of Scottish pensioners working well into their 80s, when they should instead be enjoying the fruits of decades of work, is worrying.
Significant numbers of a section of the population are feeling short-changed as they attempt to survive the current cost-of-living crisis. The octogenarian conundrum, as a Scottish retirement consultant put it to me, represents a wider malaise where a key section of society is made to feel like second-class citizens. It is as much a socio-economic problem along with big business corporate responsibility shortfalls, and don't get me started about the attitudes of some well-heeled politicians who should know better.
The subject is heavily in the news, especially in France, where a decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 has led to street riots and close attention of the country's judiciary at the highest levels. Finland is reported to be the best place for pensioners, followed by Poland and Sweden, the latter boasting an impressive 100% rate of participation in funded pensions.
The website PensionBee describes the UK state pension as 'modest', adding that many retirees are struggling to live comfortably. To make matters worse, the pension pot a person finally finishes up with is up for grabs: in 2021, 4.6m cases of fraud were reported, a fair chunk involving pension scams. The figure continues to rise as cybercriminals envisage rich pickings from unwitting elderly folk.
The 2010 Equality Act includes Scotland and has nine basic points. One is age, with legal protection from discrimination in the workplace and wider society. Yet there are genuine fears it doesn't go far enough.
Science Daily notes that ageism is considered to be the most common form of prejudice involving those aged 60 and over. A study, involving researchers around the world, stated: 'We can't have a quarter of our population being harmed and we can't lose out on all the enormous benefits that older people can bring to society'.
The Centre for Ageing Better cites a report of damaging views encapsulated in the language used, to the point where it risks damaging the social fabric by stoking intergenerational tension through negative attitudes like 'boomer vs millennial', as if it's a competition.
In reality, no-one is immune from the current cost of living crisis:
Insider's tech commentator Emilia David, who describes herself as an 'elder millennial' living in one of the most expensive cities in the world, often worries about money and isn't alone in feeling uncertain about finances. She points to how millennials (age range 27-42) and Gen Z (range upwards into their mid-20s) have each found themselves financially scarred by the pandemic and getting stuck in a cycle of spending, saving and debt.
Another drawback is the way later life (Gen X are categorised as aged between 43-58, and boomers 59-68) is spoken about in politics, to the point where it potentially affects policymaking. It's not only the politicians as the centre also points to the media, advertising and charity sector all reinforcing prejudices. 'Political discourse mainly frames the ageing population as a costly
crisis emphasising the dependence of older people on state support.'
The vital contribution of people at older ages to society is overlooked, including caring for loved ones and providing support in communities through the reality and diversity of later life. Far too often they become affected by stereotypes leading to harassment and discrimination, types of attitudes we all know so well, like ageism, sexism and racism. Under the act, an 'equality and diversity' policy involves a written agreement for a group about how it must avoid discrimination against people, together with creating a safe and inclusive atmosphere for both members and service users. This is worth remembering the next time you suffer the rough end of some unfortunate experience. But proving it may be difficult.
A report has just been released revealing that workers who take early retirement form the largest number of individuals classed as economically inactive and deprive companies of badly-needed skills. My sociology professor told me decades ago to prepare for the leisure society. I guess he hadn't factored in how skewed workplace demands have become. Over half of over-50s (52%) in Scotland left the workforce since the start of Covid-19 compared to a UK average of 49%. Apparently, significant numbers returning to employment is critical to the country's productivity and prospects. It all sounds plausible.
The Trussell Trust reports that in these post-pandemic highly volatile economic times, with food banks and increasing numbers admitting to eating only once daily, there remain far too many cases where, due to a profound lack of hard cash and support, a person is expected to work until they drop.
Also, it is clear that no smart digital gadget, like a more expensive mobile phone or social media-driven autonomous (ro)bot computer program that can mimic the human voice, looks likely to change this sorry situation anytime soon.
Former Reuters, Sunday Times, The Scotsman and Glasgow Herald business and finance correspondent, Bill Magee is a columnist writing tech-based articles for Daily Business, Institute of Directors, Edinburgh Chamber and occasionally The Times' 'Thunderer'
