Lidl to remove mandatory retirement age of 65 for employees

Lidl Ireland is giving employees the option to continue working past the age of 65, effective in the coming weeks.

They are the first company in Ireland to announce the removal of the mandatory retirement age clause for current and prospective employees. Lidl currently offers a pension plan to all staff, and workers who choose to continue their service can opt to extend their pension plan on an individual basis. The retailer hopes the removal will "attract more mature and life-experienced talent" and offer more flexibility to current employees.

The announcement comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that major changes to the state pension system are on the way, which would allow employees more flexibility with regards to retirement and incentivising workers to continue to work until seventy years of age.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming policy change, Chief People Officer at Lidl Ireland Maeve McCleane said:

As one of the largest workforces in the country, we are aware of the broad scope of employees and age groups that work at Lidl, and we want to support those who would like to choose to continue working with us and are not limited by the mandatory retirement age. .... we are really proud to continue to introduce people-centric policy updates that recognise the needs of our employees and are constantly evolving all the time as they progress through different stages of their lives and unlock a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered.

Lidl’s removal of the mandatory retirement age is part of its benefits package which also includes dedicated menopause support resources, 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. Following the announcement Carl O’Connor, a customer assistant at Lidl Youghal said: 

I joined Lidl in 2000, when Lidl first launched in Ireland, and have worked with the company for twenty-two years. Not being able to work past the current retirement age was of huge concern. I am delighted that I can plan ahead much longer into the future.

Customer assistant at Lidl Ennis Bernadette Gilligan said:

 I’m sixty-five in April next year and am so pleased that Lidl have made this announcement on retirement. Not everyone wants to retire at sixty-five, and if you’re in good health, continuing to work keeps your mind ticking and working.

Header image via Lidl Ireland READ NEXT: Co. Down woodland park reopens to public after 500 years