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Topic: These days, many people continue to work long after the standard retirement age of 65. While for some this is a necessity, for others it is a choice they make.
Why do you think some people continue to work after 65?
Should companies be encouraged to hire elderly staff members?
Model essay:
The modern work life has changed dramatically over the past few decades, with many people now working well past the traditional retirement age of 65. While many have no choice but to continue working, others simply do so to keep busy. This essay will illustrate how a longer life expectancy has much to do with this phenomenon and propose that companies ought to help make this golden age easier for those who need it most.
Average life expectancy has increased in most of the world’s developed nations, to somewhere in the late 70s or early 80s. This suggests that at 65, people still have many years to live and pay for the cost of living. Consequently, many people simply cannot afford to retire at 65 because they have not saved up enough money to last them those extra years. Some also need to help their children who cannot find sufficient work in an overcrowded job market. Alternatively, those who have put aside sufficient money to retire often realize after a period of leisurely living that they do not have enough to occupy their time and are bored; many thus return to the workforce as a hobby.
This leads to the question of what companies ought to do with elderly applicants. Some people worry that if older workers hold on to their jobs, the younger generations will lack positions to fill and rising unemployment will be a problem. However, companies have a great opportunity here to satisfy both ends of the age spectrum. They can hire older workers and have them train and mentor the younger generations, thus benefitting both generations. Governments should also incentivize companies to hire elderly workers, but to prioritize the work according to those who need it while asking those who are there to pass the time to accept part-time, or even voluntary roles.
To sum up, people are working longer these days because of need and desire. Companies should utilize this information to help both the older and younger generations adapt and help each other.
