AGE DISCRIMINATION

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 | Updated: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:59 am

Six million employees have seen ageist behaviour in their workplace in the six months since the laws came into force, according to research from The Employers Forum on Age (EFA).

The research found that ageism seems to be particularly rife in recruitment and it’s younger people who are really feeling the pinch, 27% of 16-24 year olds think that age has stood in the way of them getting a job.

The EFA found that 63% of workers are still yet to feel the difference of the regulations, particularly when it comes to getting a job. 

Sam Mercer, director of The Employers Forum on Age, says: “Six months on, it is disappointing to find that so many people are still falling victim to ageism at work. It just goes to show that a change in the law is merely the first step in a long journey towards tackling endemic social prejudices – as we’ve seen before with gender and race legislation.  It’s down to us all as individuals to challenge our own ageist beliefs and ensure that particularly at work, we make judgements based on skills and ability rather than age.”