In 2000 at the beginning of the new millennium, 12.4 % of the US population was 65 or older, and that figure is expected to jump 20 % by 2030, according to the Department of Health & Human Services.
Although most employers do not have a mandatory retirement age policy because, in general, people are living longer. U.S. Law, amendments to the Age Discrimination Enforcement Act in 1978 gave protection to workers older than 65--the standard retirement age. In many cases, as long as the worker can perform his job, that person cannot be forced out of his position.
However, positions that require fast reflexes and quick reaction times, such as police officers and air traffic controllers, can have retirement ages between 55 and 60. So then why is the top cop at NYPD still on the job and why will Mayor Mike Bloomberg being allowed to continue serving out his third term since they are both 70 years old?
Do you think either one of these two senior citizens doing a bang up job? Recent press
stories and complaints from members of the public, as well as the news media organizations tell a different story.