TAEN – The Age and Employment Network is concerned over a sharp rise in the number of age discrimination claims and warns that the figure is likely to continue rising.

Figures published by the Tribunal Service in its Annual Statistics for 2010/11 show a ‘dramatic’ rise in the number of age discrimination claims lodged with the service.

The figures show that, in the year up to 31 March 2011, 6,800 age discrimination claims were filed, a rise of 31% on the previous year’s number. Since 2008-09, the overall number of claims has risen by 79%.

Chris Ball (right), chief executive of TAEN, the centre of expertise on older people and the workplace, says: “These figures show a dramatic rise in the number of age discrimination claims in the past two years and emphasise the importance of employers becoming more age-aware.

“With further job losses expected in the public sector and the lingering idea that older workers are a burden, we would not be surprised to see these figures continue to rise.

“Employers must have appropriate policies in place to deal with issues like redundancies, recruitment and pay. In all of these areas, age should be completely out of the equation.”