Research by business insurance specialist, QBE, found that companies across the UK were not monitoring the age demographic of their workforce and were potentially putting the well-being of older employees at risk.

In a survey among senior HR decision makers, more than half admitted that they did not know the number of their employees over the state pension age or indeed how many of their older employees planned to continue working beyond the pension age.

With regard to supporting an older workforce, over one in two respondents did not conduct specific health and safety or risk management audits, more than two thirds (72%) were not assessing the suitability of their existing occupational health and rehabilitation programmes, while 74% were not reviewing flexible working policies.

Rosie Hewitt, rehabilitation manager at QBE commented “This lack of awareness gives grounds for concern. From an employee health and wellbeing perspective, it could signal that Britain’s employers do not have the policies and support services in place that reflect the needs of all their workers. This exposes older employees to work-related injury or illness and companies to the financial consequences of employee absence”

QBE's report,Managing the Risks of an Ageing Workforce, presents the wider research findings, considers the ramifications of an ageing workforce and provides practical advice for employers on how to ensure the safety, health and welling of their older workers.

Findings at a glance

• 60% of senior HR decision makers did not know how many of their employees were above the state pension age
• Fewer than one in four were monitoring how their employee age demographic was going to change in the next 10 to 20 years
• Well over half (62%) did not conduct age-relevant health and safety or risk management audits
• Over two thirds (68%) did not monitor the cause and/or rate of absence among older workers

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