Glasgow City Council (GCC) has approved plans to give all staff over the age of 50 the option of applying for voluntary retirement.
As Holyrood Daily reported on Tuesday, the council was looking at plans to reduce staff numbers by allowing over 50s to retire. There are 3500 workers that fall into that category, so the decision not to place a restriction on the number of applications could be an indication of how many jobs the council is looking to cut.
The GCC press release states: "All members of staff over the age of 50 will now receive letters outlining the voluntary options open to them and a series of staff briefings are taking across the Council."
The move is part of the council's ‘Tomorrow’s Council’ plan, which will respond to oncoming budget cuts and a need to make minimum savings of £34m.
The number of workers willing to play ball with this could be fewer than GCC hopes. With society largely no longer considering 50 to be an old age, it will most likely be the older workers that jump at the chance of early retirement.
The Herald said on Tuesday that those choosing to voluntarily retire early would be offered a deal that would "include optimum pension entitlements and a severance deal", however it is unlikely that this could comfortably last the 30 or so years that someone retiring at 50 could potentially live.
There might be an opportunity for some to consider taking the money and running to another job, but the fear involved in this would likely be too great. As a worker at another council was overheard commenting this week: “Who’s going to employ you once you’re over 50?”
