A major change.
Lidl Ireland is set to remove the mandatory retirement age clause for its employees, allowing for the opportunity to continue working beyond the age of 65.
The German-owned supermarket chain is touting itself as the first company in Ireland to do away with the clause, which will be officially introduced in the coming weeks. All staff with the retailer will have the option made available to them.
Per the Citzens Information
website, there is currently no legally enforced mandatory retirement age in Ireland. However, it is commonplace for employers to place a mandatory retirement age of 65 years old into their contracts.
Carl O'Connor, who has worked as a customer assistant with Lidl since 2000 when the company first launched in Ireland, said that not being able to work past the mandatory retirement age represented a "huge concern" to him.
"I have worked all of my life and I am fit and healthy and want to continue as long as I can," said O'Connor.
"It’s great that the opportunity is now there to work on. I was nervous when I was coming to the time of retirement, but I was reassured that there was no need to worry. It has been seamless with no changes to the way I work.
"I will continue to work away at Lidl as long as I’m allowed to, or my body allows me to," O'Connor added.
"And it’s great to be able to continue the work that I enjoy and to have a purpose to the day. I enjoy going home after a day’s work and the fact that I could be sitting in the garden doesn’t even cross my mind. I will have plenty time for that."
The removal of the mandatory retirement age is part of an overall employee benefit package that includes menopause support resources for employees and line managers, paid time off for employees affected by early pregnancy loss or miscarriage, fertility leave, maternity leave, adoptive leave, paternity leave, parental leave, fostering leave and carers’ leave.
