For individuals - The Age Regulations

The Age Regulations give individuals important new rights and protection.

They are based on the principle that no one should be treated less favourably – in employment or vocational training situations - on account of their chronological age. They are designed to tackle the problem of age discrimination in the workplace.

It is the first time that all people of working age (or older) are covered by a strand of anti-discrimination legislation – irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. Previous legislation has extended protection against unfavourable treatment to significant minorities – but not to everyone.

However, we all have an ‘age’. And the chances are that at some stage (or stages) of our working lives, we may encounter prejudice based on nothing more than our age and the stereotypes and myths which attach to people of that particular age – be it younger or older.

It is those lazy value judgements about other people’s worth, ability, competence and potential, and the consequent exclusion and barriers to opportunity which arise from those judgments and decisions based on them, that the legislation is attempting to tackle.

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

However despite the basic principle behind them, the Regulations do allow a number of situations where an employer, training provider or the Government can still use ‘age’ as a criteria for decisions or policies in respect of employment and training which may effect us as individuals.

(click here for a guide to the exemptions mentioned in the Regulations).