Age Discrimination – are you ready?

A recent marketing survey revealed that ageism is the most common form of discrimination in the work place. Of those questioned, 38% said they had been discriminated against in the workplace on the grounds of age. That statistic could translate into a flurry of claims when anti-age discrimination laws come into force in October.

The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (click here to view the DTI, Employment Relations web page) were laid before Parliament on 9 March and will come into effect on 1 October 2006. From that date it will be unlawful to discriminate against someone on the basis of his/her age in practically all areas of the employment field. Click here for a summary of the different forms of discrimination.