Information & advice

If you’re being discriminated against because of your age you have the right to take legal action.

On 1st October 2006‚ a new law – The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 – came into force in England‚ Wales and Scotland (similar legislation is in force in Northern Ireland).

The Regulations provide protection against age discrimination in employment‚ training and adult education‚ for people of all ages. 

• The law makes it unlawful in most circumstances for an employer to treat you less favourably than a younger colleague‚ because of your age. This includes in recruitment‚ promotion‚ terms and conditions‚ redundancy and dismissal.  But there are some exceptions and situations when an employer may be able to justify discrimination.
• There is a retirement procedure which employers have to follow.  Employees have the right to request staying on past the employer’s retirement date.
• People over age 65 can now claim unfair dismissal‚ statutory redundancy payments and statutory sick pay as the upper age limits for these are removed.
• The law applies to training and education as well as employment.  This includes adult learning‚ further education‚ higher education such as university courses‚ and other training which provides skills related to work.
• But the law provides limited protection for people over 65‚ particularly when it comes to recruitment and forced retirement.

Free mini-guide to age discrimination at work

You can download all the information in this section in our mini-guide to age discrimination‚ or you can order a copy  from our freephone Information Line on 0800 00 99 66.

Further information

Your local Age Concern can give you information about the law and will help you find advice in your area click here to find your local Age Concern.

Find out more about the age discrimination law

Freephone
Information Line
0800 00 99 66