Subjects:

Discrimination Law

Contents:

include...

EU law

Types of discrimination

Age discrimination justifications

Exceptions to the regulations

The recruitment process

Pay and non-pay benefits

Pensions

Retirement

Bringing a claim

Remedies in employment

Age discrimination in education

The background to the law and likely future

Age discrimination is the most widespread form of discrimination in the workplace. It can be overt and deliberate, or it can be subtle and unintentional. It can take the form of individual decisions made by employers or colleagues, or be embedded into the policies and systems of an organisation. Importantly, age discrimination can affect people of any age.

The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations in force from October 2006 implement the EU Framework Directive on Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation and make discrimination on the grounds of age unlawful in employment and education. Employers are no longer permitted to use age as a criterion for recruitment, promotion, training and termination, and significant changes have come into force that affect retirement, pay and benefits and pension schemes.

The Age Discrimination Handbook is a comprehensive, yet practical, guide to the new law. There is expert guidance on the regulations with extensive cross-references to other strands of anti-discrimination law. Particular attention is given to the various loopholes, justifications and exceptions that are specific to this type of discrimination law and will present challenges even to the most experienced adviser.