Brits might be planning to work longer than ever due to decreasing pension packages but younger Brits would prefer them to take an earlier exit from the workplace, according to a new study.

Research conducted by home and care provider Anchor has revealed some surprisingly ageist attitudes taking hold in the workplace, with two fifths of 18-24-year-olds claiming there are simply not enough jobs for the older generation to be hogging positions and that older people should retire to make way for younger workers.

With default retirement age of 65 ending this year, many pensioners are planning to stay in their careers far longer than the previous generation. Indeed many older Brits are unable to retire when they had hoped due to poor finances. According to some of the younger generation however, the benefits of older workers in the jobs market are limited, with one fifth of young Brits believing the over 60s are slower and less productive than their younger counterparts. One in 20 even went as far as to say that older workers should be paid less than workers who are younger than them because they work at a slower pace.

Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of Anchor, said: “Casual ageism has no place in society and these results bear no reality to the lives of the over 60s in England today who are active, energetic and contribute hugely to many of the most successful businesses and organisations in the country. The dismissive attitudes highlighted by Anchor’s research towards the over 60s are a sad indictment of attitudes in England.”