Employee benefits may need to be different for older staff than younger personnel, one expert has noted.

Dr Lynda Shaw, cognitive neuroscientist and business improvement strategist, argued companies should try to keep their workers engaged.

This may increasingly include older staff, with new figures from the Office for National Statistics showing the average age at which people leave the labour force rising to 64.6 years for men and 62.3 years for women by 2010 compared with 63.8 and 61.2 years respectively in 2004.

“These days people just don’t get old, it is an attitude of mind,” Dr Shaw stated. “It is in the company’s interest to actually re-engage that employee, so that they feel rejuvenated and they have got more energy and more interest.”

Among the employment benefits more personnel who are more senior in age may need include flexible retirement options, she suggested.

The practicality of work for older individuals could also be improved by providing wheelchair access, better acoustics to help those who are hard of hearing and ensuring there is optimal lighting.