GETTY - STOCK IMAGE More than five of UK employees think mature colleagues are discriminated against

FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

More than one in five of UK employees think mature colleagues are discriminated against and unappreciated. Only 12 per cent say older workers are appreciated and respected in the workplace and just 11 per cent believe their bosses encourage them to carry on working. This is despite two in five employees saying workers aged 55-plus contribute to a wider range of skills within British businesses, according to a new survey.

However some staff (35 per cent) admit to concerns that older workers could act as ‘career blockers’, preventing younger staff from climbing the career ladder. And 18 per cent say the government is not helping to promote the recruitment or retention of older workers. Paul Avis, marketing director at Canada Life Group Insurance, which commissioned the research, said: “As our population ages and the traditional retirement age becomes a distant memory, it’s inevitable older employees will become more commonplace in the UK workforce.

GETTY - STOCK IMAGE Only 12 per cent say older workers are appreciated and respected in the workplace

“This is arguably a positive change, allowing employers to capitalise on the skills of multiple generations in their workforce.

It’s inevitable older employees will become more commonplace in the UK workforce Paul Avis

“However, a persistent stigma and lack of respect for older staff threatens to impact this type of worker’s wellbeing and productivity. “Companies who provide appropriate support for older workers will be the ones who benefit most from multi-generational working. “Our research shows it’s not just financial benefits that are most useful for older workers, but also the support services that are provided alongside these.

GETTY - STOCK IMAGE Just 11 per cent believe their bosses encourage them to carry on working

Incredible oldest workers in the world Wed, February 8, 2017 Whether they’re workaholics or simply serial socialites, you have to admire their tenacity. Play slideshow 1 of 6 Syd Prior, 96. Syd retired from his meet and greet role at B&Q’s New Malden branch in South-West London days before his 97th birthday in 2011.

“Support services provide daily value by helping to improve staff health and wellbeing and giving vital help to enable a return to work when illness does strike.” Flexible working (36 per cent) and more part-time opportunities (31 per cent) are seen as most important to support an older workforce. An additional 14 per cent believe new skills training is most important, found the poll of 1,000 staff.

GETTY - STOCK IMAGE This is despite employees saying workers aged 55-plus contribute to a wider range of skills