Bosses back older staff.

EMPLOYERS are standing up for the rights of older workers with nearly nine in every 10 believing they shouldn't be forced to work until they drop, according to new research.

A survey of HR professionals by Croner, one of the UK's leading providers of business information and advice, follows the CBI's recent recommendation to raise the retirement age from 65 to 70 by 2030, but 85% of those polled disagree. The survey also found that 92% believe there are benefits to having an increasingly mature workforce in the UK, and Richard Smith, HR expert at Croner, says this indicates a positive shift in attitudes of employers towards older workers.