Will Ageism in the Workplace Interrupt Retirement Success?

401k, retirement, financial security

What now?

As the average lifespan increases, many Americans worry about having saved too little for a lengthy retirement. This fear is translating into employees who count on working past traditional retirement age.

In fact, most wouldn’t consider a person to be “too old” to work until they were around 75.

But companies have a different point of view, according to a recent report by Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS).

In its 18th Annual Retirement Survey, employer respondents said they would consider a person who is age 70 (median) “too old” to work.

To be fair, two-thirds of business owners thought it would “depend on the person.” Fewer workers (54 percent) felt this way.

Employees are nonetheless uneasy about being allowed to work longer. Even though 82 percent of employers said they would support people working past 65, only 72 percent of workers think that this is the case. And while seven in 10 companies consider themselves to be “aging friendly”—meaning they offer opportunities, training and tools to encourage the success of workers of all ages—just 56 percent of employees perceive them this way.

It’s entirely possible the lack of confidence among workers is unwarranted. However, in their defense, employers aren’t doing much to quell their anxiety. Just 23 percent of businesses surveyed have a formal diversity and inclusion policy statement that addresses age.

Further, a mere one in five employers offer some sort of phased retirement program for employees who’d like to transition into retirement. Yet almost half of workers envision retiring this way. Many would like to work fewer hours (30 percent) or transition into either a less demanding or more personally fulfilling position (17 percent) before hanging up their hat for good.

But on one point companies and their workers can agree—and it’s not pretty. Survey respondents think retirement security is likely to be out of reach for many Americans. Just 16 percent of employers and 18 percent of employees are “very confident” that workers will be able to fully retire with a comfortable lifestyle.

“Employers play an all-critical role in promoting retirement security among workers, yet it’s important to remember that their raison d’être is running a business. Working together, policymakers and the retirement industry must make it as easy, affordable and worry-free as possible for employers to offer retirement plans along with other employee benefits and flexible retirement options to their employees,” Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of Transamerica Institute and TCRS, said in a statement.

The Current State of 401(k)s and Opportunities to Enhance Retirement Security

“Employer-sponsored retirement plans, including 401k and similar employee-funded plans, have proven to be the most effective way to facilitate long-term savings among workers,” Collinson added. “Unfortunately, not all workers have equal access.”

Based on its research findings, TCRS’ report highlights several areas in which employer-sponsors and plan advisors could do more to improve employee outcomes:

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