Acas predicts ageing population will have far reaching impact on the workplace

Employers should start planning now for the effects an ageing population will have on the workplace according to Acas, the employment relations service.

As more and more people live longer, thousands of workers will experience increased pressure as they juggle work with caring duties for elderly relatives. This could see an increase in requests for flexible working and part time hours to help meet eldercare as well as childcare responsibilities.

Around one in seven of the workforce are also carers and 46% of all carers who work have already changed their working arrangements in some way - figures which are likely to increase.

With the recent announcement that the default retirement age will be removed, employers will also have to tackle the performance management of older workers.