The Cyber Era was supposed to release all of us from the daily grind of work with the promise of increased leisure all round. To learn there are increasing numbers of Scottish pensioners working well into their eighties when they should instead be enjoying the fruits of decades of work is worrying.

The Internet and mobile channels increasingly concentrate on innumerable social media sites dominated by "Digital Natives" those individuals born since 1980.

Yet, it is in the older age bracket where significant numbers belong to a section of the population growing in numbers far faster than all other age groups. They should rightfully feel short-changed as they attempt to survive the lingering cost-of-living crisis.

"An Octogenarian Conundrum"

That is how a Scottish retirement consultant described matters to me as it represents a wider malaise where a key section of society is made to feel second-class citizens. In France when politicans decided to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 it led to street riots and close attention of the country's judiciary at the highest levels.

Whereas Finland is reported to be the best place for pensioners, followed by Poland and Sweden the latter boasting an impressive 100 per cent rate of participation in funded pensions.

The website PensionBee described the UK state pension as "modest" with many retirees struggling to live comfortably. To make matters worse that pension pot a person finally finishes up with is up for grabs..

In 2021 4.6 million cases of fraud, mostly online, were reported a fair chunk involving pension scams. The figure have continued to rise in the last five years as cybercriminals envisage rich pickings from unwitting elderly folk.

The 2010 Equality Act - including Scotland - persists in raising genuine fears it doesn't go far enough. It includes nine basic points one of which is age, supposedly promising legal protection from discrimination in the workplace and wider society, replacing previous discriminatory laws with a single act supposed to make matters easier to understand as it strengthens protection.

Science Daily noted ageism is nowadays considered to be the most common form of prejudice involving those aged 60 and over. In a study involving researchers around the world a common response added up to a lack of a comprehensive scrutiny at the problem.

This despite widespread fallout from systematic ageism both blatant and subtle: "We can't have a quarter of our population being harmed and we can't lose out on all the enormous benefits that older people can bring to society".

The Centre for Ageing Better cited a report of such UK-wide damaging views encapsulated in the language used, to the point where it risks damaging the social fabric by stoking intergenerational tension through negative attitudes like "boomer vs millennial" as if it's a competition.

No one is Immune

The current cost of living crisis favours no particular age range: Insider reported how millennials (into their mid-forties) and Gen Z (range upwards reaching their thirties) have each found themselves financially scarred well beyond the pandemic and getting stuck in a cycle of spending, saving and debt.

However, a particular drawback is the way later life (Gen X are categorised as aged between 43-58, and boomers 59-68) is spoken about in politics, to the point where it potentially affects policymaking.

It's not only the politicians as the centre also points to the media, advertising even the charity sector all reinforcing prejudices: "Political discourse mainly frames the ageing population as a costly 'crisis' emphasising the dependence of older people on state support".

This overlooks the vital contribution of people at older ages to society. Including caring for loved ones and providing support in communities through the reality and diversity of later life.

Far too often they become affected by stereotypes leading to harassment and discrimination, types of attitudes often expressed as isms we all know so well like ageism, sexism and racism.

Early Retirement the Answer?

Interestingly, under the act an "equality and diversity" policy involves a written agreement for a group in whatever sector or community, all about how it must avoid discrimination against people together with creating a safe and inclusive atmosphere for both members and service users.

This is worth remembering the next time you suffer the rough end of some unfortunate experience. But proving it may prove difficult. Another report claimed those who take early retirement form the largest number of individuals classed as economically inactive.

This deprives companies of badly-needed skills. My sociology professor told me decades ago to prepare for the leisure society. I guess he hadn't factored in how skewed workplace demands have become with ignificant numbers returning to employment is actually critical to the country's productivity and prospects.

The trouble is that in these post-pandemic highly volatile economic times, food banks and increasing numbers admitting to eating only once daily, according to the Trussell Trust, where there remain far too many cases where due to a profound lack of hard cash and support, a person is expected to work 'til they drop. Something has got to give..