Navigating retirement conversations the right way

A client once asked me how to approach a delicate situation: they had a long-serving employee in a senior position and were wondering whether it was okay to ask if the person was planning to retire. Their question was understandable—but so was their concern about overstepping or appearing discriminatory.

We worked together to develop a lawful, respectful, and practical approach, centred around open communication and good planning—without making assumptions based on age.

Step 1: Know the Legal Boundaries

First, I guided them through the Equality Act 2010, which protects employees from age-related discrimination. We reviewed their internal retirement and succession planning policies to make sure these conversations, if they happened, would always be voluntary and employee-led.

Step 2: Shift the Conversation

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