From April, no-one can be asked to retire at 65 without triggering a claim for compensation for age discrimination. Up until April, firms can still issue six-month notices warning of an intention to retire staff, which will catch some employees who are 65 between April and October. However, if you do not receive one of these before the end of March then you will be able to continue working. But you can still be dismissed because you are not up to the job, which has led to fears that without a 65 cut-off, more staff below that age will be asked to leave. Furthermore, some companies may attempt to exempt themselves from the legislation. Institute of Directors spokesman said: "Thousands of retirements will now be managed via the dismissal process. No wonder HR departments are tearing their hair out." The Scotsman, March 2011
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