For employers - The Age Regulations

The Age Regulations place important new responsibilities upon employers not to treat individuals less favourably in respect to employment or vocational training on the basis of their chronological age.

They cover all aspects of the employment, or would-be employment, relationship – from recruitment, terms and conditions, promotion and training to redundancy, retirement and the provision of references. The Regulations apply to potential, existing and past employees.

A great deal of research has shown that age discrimination is the most likely form of discrimination which individuals have encountered in the workplace. Sometimes such discrimination has been isolated and accidental but in many instances it has been widespread and deliberate - part of company culture and practice.

With Employment Tribunals able to award unlimited compensation to successful claimants, then at the very least, employers need to ensure that their policies and practices are compliant with the requirements of the regulations.

However, in a view of increasing life expectancy, changing demographics, global competition, increasing skills gaps and shortages and the desire and need of more people to go on working longer, employers are better advised to make the best use of all the human capital available to them – and fully embrace age diversity. The way to ensure ageism is banished from their workplaces, is to take age out of the equation.

(click here for TAEN’s Simple Guide to the Age Regulations)