Band 6+: Some people think that having a set retirement age (e.g. 65 years) for everybody, regardless of occupation, is unfair. They believe that certain workers deserve to retire and receive a pension at an earlier age. Do you agree or disagree? Which types of workers do you think should benefit from early retirement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

The question of one-size-fits-all approach in a retirement age has become a topic of ongoing debate. While some argue that having fixed age of retirement for everyone is fair, I firmly agree that certain workers should be entitled to early retire. Moreover, workers with physically demanding occupation and high-stress environment should have an early retirement.

To begin with, people who works with dangerous chemicals and in high-stress conditions should have an opportunity to retire earlier. The most compelling argument in this view that they have a substantial risk to have traumas on their work. This largely stems from the ability to fast reaction and concentration because people over 65 are inevitably inclined to cognitive degradation. Not only does working in these conditions leads to risk for individuals, but it also paves the way for dangerous situation for all workers. For example, recent evidence indicates that people over 65 have a noticeable decline in neuroplasticity, and that leads to problems with memory and cognitive functions.

To regarding with specific occupations, some professions, such as a doctor and a policemen, should be entitled to early retirement. This is mainly because these professions are required a lot of concentration and fast reaction. To be more precise, when people face with stress situations or physical toll for a long time during their work, they inevitably have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. This is primarily crucial because if government failed to address this issue, the mortality rate among older workers would gradually rise. The clear example can be seen in Russia, where retirement age is fixed at 65, and, in this country, the average mortality rate among man is 55 years.

To conclude, although some people convinced that a fixed retirement age can be a positive approach, the evidence and reasoning above demonstrate that certain professions should have an early retirement. Under no circumstances should government overlook the importance of different workers age of retirement, as doing so would threat safety on workplace and worker’s life expectancy.