French government plans to increase its minimum retirement age

Much like how no one wants to get more dental fillings than they have to, no one wants to work a day longer than they have to, either. But what about when the government says you have to work two years longer? That’s what President Macron told French citizens recently.

Where in the world? Earlier this month, the French government announced its intent to slowly raise the national retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030. The country, Macron said, is experiencing pension funding deficits, as well as other public finance issues, and needs more workers to contribute to the system for longer.

The French haven’t taken the news well, despite having a relatively early retirement age compared to other countries in Europe. On January 19, protests sprung up in 200 cities across France against the proposal. Among their concerns: that the change would be hindered by age discrimination.

“We’re being told to work more. But it’s almost impossible for older people to get jobs, because companies in France won’t hire them,” Christine Jagueneau, a 59-year-old former marketing manager who lives in France, told the New York Times.

Satellite view. France isn’t the only country to have raised its retirement age in recent years (the Netherlands, Italy, and South Korea have all done so) or to have concerns about ageism at work. Older employees worldwide face ageism in the workplace, including in the US, where 78% of older workers report having experienced discrimination, according to research from AARP. Given that 38% of HR practitioners admit they have caught themselves exhibiting age bias, HR could consider doing more to ensure fair hiring practices.—KP