QUESTION
Forced retirement, to some employers is one viable way of making space for a new hire.  To other employers, insinuating and making comments about forced retirement can land them in a law suit.  It is not uncommon for an employer to want a ‘young’ hire for their business and even less common for the employer to come up with ways to dismiss their senior employee in an attempt to ‘make space’.  With this topic in mind, faithful readers of the Globe and Mail have asked whether or not it is legal to make comments insinuating that an employee should retire?
ANSWER

Toronto Employment lawyer, Daniel Lublin stresses the fact that a forced retirement is an illegal termination.  In cases where an employee is being hinted to retire, an employee may be entitled to a severance package and damages for age discrimination. In fact, senior employees who are considering receipt of a severance package can ask their employer. However, be forewarned that this can have consequences.  To know how to best handle retirement situations, you should consult with a lawyer at Whitten and Lublin Employment lawyers.
Read Daniel Lublin’s Globe and Mail column and full article Can I be forced into retirement?