Age discrimination most prevalent at work, study finds

Age discrimination is most prevalent in the workplace than anywhere else in society, new research has revealed.

According to the data, from a campaign launched by Centre for Ageing Better to tackle ageism, 37% of people in their 50’s and 60’s experienced age discrimination at work in the past 12 months.

People in the over 50s age group also experienced ageism on television, films, news reports, social media and as consumers, the study found. Meanwhile, the charity found that half of adults aged over 50 in England have experienced age discrimination in the past year.

But these figures are concerning as more over 50’s are working than ever before. According to the statistics, there are 11million workers aged 50 and over – 4 million more than 20 years ago.

In a separate study, carried out in 2021, it was found that one in three people aged over 50 thought they had been turned down for a job because of their age, while a YouGov survey in 2022 found one in five employers believed age discrimination took place in their organisation.

The campaign also found that older employees are also less likely to receive training once in a role.

Centre for Ageing Better chief executive Dr Carole Easton said: “Ageism is the prejudice that’s hidden in plain sight. We see and hear casual ageism every day, it’s embedded in our society and even accepted as normal by many of us who are older.

“Ageism scars lives. It is often dismissed as being harmless, but if you look at the research, or speak to people whose lives have been affected by ageism, you will soon realise ageist ideas or beliefs can be incredibly damaging for us as individuals and for wider society.

“That is why we are launching this campaign to get the nation thinking differently about ageing, for the benefit of us all as we grow older.”

The Age Without Limits campaign is urging employers to make their workplaces more accessible and inclusive for older people by considering the language on job adverts, offering flexible working opportunities, and encourage conversations around topics such as the menopause at work.

Discrimination at work is a serious offence and there are rules and regulations in place to protect workers.

What is discrimination?

If you are being treated unfairly or unfavourably compared to your colleagues because of who you are, you may have a discrimination claim.

The Equality Act 2010 prohibits employers from discriminating against employees because of the following protected characteristics:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnerships
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

What does workplace discrimination look like?

Discrimination in the workplace is not necessarily obvious. Please see below the different forms of discrimination which may present themselves in the workplace:

• Direct Discrimination – Treating a person less favourably because of one or more Protected Characteristics.
• Indirect Discrimination – There may be a workplace provision, criterion, or practice (PCP) which is not intended to be discriminatory but which has the effect of disadvantaging employees with a particular Protected Characteristic. For example, a policy that unfair disadvantages a group of employees with one of the Protected Characteristics.
• Harassment – Harassment occurs when an employee is subjected to unwanted conduct relating to one or more Protected Characteristic which has the purpose or effect of either violating the employee’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for the employee.
• Victimisation – Victimisation means being ‘punished’ for reporting something at work that you believe is unfair such as being discriminated against.

What should I do if I have been discriminated against?

If you believe that you are being treated unfairly at work because of one of the above protected characteristics, you may have a discrimination claim.

Please contact Oakwood Solicitors Ltd as soon as possible to speak to one of our employment advisors.

Further reading

Workplace discrimination – Oakwood Solicitors

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