Ageism is the inappropriate and arbitrary use of age limits and criteria in decision-making. In employment it may include, for example, age restrictions in recruitment, training opportunities, pay, promotion, redundancy and retirement.

Laws banning age discrimination in the workplace came into force on 1 October 2006.

These make it illegal to discriminate on grounds of age in relation to recruitment, training opportunities, pay, promotion, redundancy and retirement.

Your rights at work

• Employers cannot specify that job applicants be above or below a certain age.
• Employers cannot fire workers or provide them with fewer training opportunities than their colleagues because of age.
• The law does not apply to workers over the age of 65 – at this age, workers may request to extend their working lives but their employers are not obliged to honour this request.

Age advice and support organisations

These organisations may be able to offer help, advice and support.

The Age and Employment Network
www.taen.org.uk

Age Concern
www.ageconcern.org.uk

Age Positive
www.agepositive.gov.uk

Campaign Against Age Discrimination in Employment
www.caade.net

Employers Forum on Age
www.efa.org.uk

Equality and Human Rights Commission
www.equalityhumanrights.com

Mature Students Union
www.msu.org.uk