Work longer? I don't think so!

I make no political point or comment about the recently announced shifting of the year at which people will be entitled to draw their pensions in the UK.

However, there is a complete misconception amongst younger people. I keep hearing that they will have to work longer but their comments are made against a lack of understanding of reality. The age people will be able to get their pension is now about 5 years later than it used to be – HOWEVER, many people nowadays do not start working until they are in their twenties whereas, back in the old days, many started at fifteen (so the same number of years worked);  additionally, the working week for office staff in the 60s was 40 or more hours and for factory workers around 45 hours (I am not talking about overtime, just standard hours) – ask yourself what the length of the standard working week is now; then there is the subject of holidays – as I recall, the normal entitlement in the 60s was two weeks a year plus (fewer) statutory holidays . . . and, in many cases, employees had to take their holidays when the company said that they could, not when they felt like it.

Have to work longer?  I don’t think so!