ARTICLE · 28 APRIL 2006

Age discrimination: Unfair dismissal

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang

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The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 make specific changes to the law on unfair dismissal. The changes are to remove the age limits applicable to such a claim, create a new ‘retirement’ dismissal reason and process, and change the potential award of compensation resulting from a successful claim.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Sophie White

Caroline Humphries

Sarah Ozanne

The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 make specific changes to the law on unfair dismissal. The changes are to remove the age limits applicable to such a claim, create a new ‘retirement’ dismissal reason and process, and change the potential award of compensation resulting from a successful claim.

Evidence of an employer’s age discriminatory conduct before the regulations come into force will be admissible in any age discrimination/unfair dismissal claim based on acts after 1 October, so employers should act now to amend their processes, rather than wait.

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The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 make specific changes to the law on unfair dismissal. The changes are to remove the age limits applicable to such a claim, create a new ‘retirement’ dismissal reason and process, and change the potential award of compensation resulting from a successful claim.

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