One such worker is Anthony. He joined the Civil Service in the 1970s as an 18-year-old, working in a government department assessing the tax valuations of properties in suburban London. He remained in the same department until 2017, reaching management level and retiring early on a pension reflecting his final salary. “I wasn’t someone [who was] that career-driven,” he says. “It was my first job after finishing school, I just wanted something that would offer a good salary and long-term stability: it was all I needed.”