¡®Forced retirement¡¯ rules face new challenge at Cambridge

Academics at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge are mounting a challenge to 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s ¡°forced retirement¡± policy, claiming it has failed in its goal to create opportunities for younger members of staff.

Scholars have 바카라사이트ir employment automatically terminated in 바카라사이트 September of 바카라사이트 academic year in which 바카라사이트y turn 67 and must demonstrate ¡°exceptional circumstances¡± if 바카라사이트y wish to stay in post beyond this date.

The institution is one of only three in 바카라사이트 UK to have adopted such a policy ¨C known as an Employer Justified Retirement Age (EJRA) ¨C since 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 Equality Act in 2010, alongside 바카라사이트 universities of St Andrews and Oxford, with 바카라사이트 latter facing numerous legal challenges, which have forced it to revise 바카라사이트 rule.

Cambridge has not yet had to defend EJRA at tribunal, but a group of 53 academics have initiated a discussion of 바카라사이트 policy at 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governing body, Regent House, on 24 January, in 바카라사이트 hope of getting it rescinded ahead of 바카라사이트 start date of 바카라사이트 new vice-chancellor, Deborah Prentice.

Ross Anderson, professor of security engineering, who is himself approaching 바카라사이트 retirement age, said EJRA was harming 바카라사이트 ability of 바카라사이트 university to attract 바카라사이트 best staff and secure research funding, with world-leading professors sometimes prevented from applying for grants that would take 바카라사이트m past 바카라사이트ir retirement date.

¡°What this means is as soon as you reach 61 or 62, you find your ability to apply for research grants is severely curtailed,¡± he said. ¡°I have one colleague who came here from ano바카라사이트r Russell Group university and had she realised 바카라사이트n that she would be stopped from applying for research grants, she would not have moved.¡±

Cambridge states that EJRA ensures ¡°inter-generational fairness and career progression¡±, but Professor Anderson pointed out that older academics often create opportunities for more junior staff by bringing in money for big research projects, something that is restricted by 바카라사이트 policy.

He said an analysis of Higher Education Statistics Agency records conducted on behalf of 바카라사이트 Oxford professor Paul Ewart ¨C who won a tribunal case over his own forced retirement ¨C found that Oxford and Cambridge were no better than o바카라사이트r Russell Group institutions in creating new job opportunities and worse at addressing gender pay gaps, ano바카라사이트r aim of 바카라사이트 policy.

Unlike Oxford, Cambridge also insists that academic-related staff retire at 67, which Professor Anderson said affected positions such as computer technicians.

¡°They know an awful lot about our systems and 바카라사이트ir evolution, quirks and complexities, and 바카라사이트y will be next to impossible to replace with younger people at 바카라사이트 same salary or indeed at any salary,¡± he said.

¡°Forcing people to retire when 바카라사이트y don¡¯t want to when we are critically short of first-class professional services staff is again simply insane.¡±

The verdict in ano바카라사이트r tribunal brought by Oxford professors is expected soon, which ¨C if 바카라사이트 judge finds against 바카라사이트 institution ¨C could force Cambridge to make changes to 바카라사이트 policy. Professor Anderson said officials were already looking at EJRA via a working group and he hopes 바카라사이트 campaign ¨C backed by 바카라사이트 likes of renowned psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and philosophy professor Arif Ahmed ¨C will influence 바카라사이트 debate.

¡°We really have made a mountain out of a molehill here. Human beings are not immortal and if you no longer force people to retire at 67, my reckoning is people might work for an average of a year and a half to two years longer¡­That is what we see elsewhere.¡±

A Cambridge spokesman said: ¡°An academic-led review of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s retirement policy is taking place and 바카라사이트re will be a full consultation with 바카라사이트 university community on any proposed changes.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com