Age Discrimination in the Workplace
Age discrimination in the workplace should be a thing of the past, but sadly it still prevails despite government legislation.
A recent study by The Age and Employment Network (TAEN) found that 73% of the over 50s age group believe employers see them as being too old, and because of this and other factors, older workers are often the first to go in a recession.
Figures show that the recession has caused a sharp increase in older people saying they were made redundant -up to 47 per cent from 32 per cent - in the period between October 2008 - May 2009, as compared to those surveyed before the economy started to deteriorate, January - September 2008.
The figures do not look good, with some 360,000 people aged 50 plus now looking for work.
The faltering economy is leading to widespread job losses but, according to Chris Ball, Chief Executive of TAEN, older people are being hit hardest.
"This makes depressing reading. These shocking figures show the greater barriers the over-50s are facing as the economy has worsened. The resultant crisis in savings, pensions and debt has taken its toll and created a need for many older people to keep on working.
"We also see here more evidence that, despite the introduction of legislation in 2006 outlawing age discrimination in employment, it has certainly not eradicated discrimination in recruitment - particularly when times are tight and where it is difficult for an individual to prove discrimination and take action"
This should send worrying signals to the Government for several reasons:
When older people become unemployed it is much harder for them to return to the job market.Recovery therefore becomes harder.
When older workers disappear, organisations lose their talent and knowledge that they may need to kick-start a revival.
An English Longitudinal Study of Ageing revealed that more than half of over 50s are out of work for more than one year, and the TUC has warned that older workers should not be forgotten in the recession.
The unfortunate truth is that some of those people who have lost their jobs in the last 18 months may now effectively ‘kiss their working lives goodbye' - with all the financial and personal turmoil that will flow from that predicament.
Ask yourself this question. If older workers are ‘pushed out' who will be left to pass on vital skills, knowledge and experience to younger workers?
Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC said that older workers are often forced into early retirement, leading to social exclusion and poverty.
"The idea of forcing older workers out of the labour market is morally offensive and would cause economic chaos. The UK would instantly lose vital skills and experience and young people would not necessarily be in a position to take up their jobs."
A report by the Office of National Statistics also confirmed that older workers are first in line for redundancy or are forced to ‘retire' before they are ready. But with mortgages to pay‚ relatives to support and devalued pensions‚ losing their job will often mean losing a lot more. Once out of work, the chance of finding a new job is more difficult for older people than for younger people, because of age discrimination.
Age Concern and Help the Aged found that around 15% of employers plan to use mandatory retirement policies to cut their workforces.
"It's economically unwise for employers to force people who want to work out of a job just because of their age. Older workers make a huge contribution to the economy and will have the skills and experience needed to boost recovery when we come out of recession," said Michelle Mitchell, charity director for Age Concern and Help the Aged.
How the facts and figures stack up:
- Age discrimination is the most commonly experienced from of discrimination‚ with nearly one in four people (23%) reporting that they have experienced it in some form.
- Almost one in three (30%) of people say the level of prejudice against older people is higher now than it was five years ago
- Unemployed men aged 50+ only have a one in five chance of being in work two years later.
- The chance of older men finding future employment falls by a quarter for each year they are out of work.
- Forcing people to retire earlier than they planned has a long term impact on their income - a man or woman on typical earnings who leaves a Direct Contribution pension scheme one year earlier than planned will lose out on around £400 per year for the rest of his or her life.
Some employers are also under the misconception that retaining their older workers keep younger workers out of a job, and that older workers have difficulty learning new technology. Nothing could be further from the truth, and if this belief persists it could lead to huge problems in the future.
" It's almost impossible to find work now that I am in my late fifties. I feel like a ‘has been', but I am a qualified computer programmer and had just completed a course to learn a new computer language.
" I know jobs are hard to find at the moment, but I feel that my age is against me. I have attended a few interviews, but as soon as they guess my age I don't get a second interview - it's blatant discrimination, that's how I see it". John B., Jobseeker - Swindon.
So what is the answer?
Age discrimination in recruitment decisions is scarring people's lives. The Government must intervene to ensure the legislation on age discrimination is monitored more closely to ensure fairness.
Senseless mandatory retirement ages should be abandoned immediately so people can go on working for as long as they need to or want to.
The solution is to ensure fairness in the redundancy process. Employers need to think carefully about employees they make redundant, and not be too hasty in cutting out so called ‘dead wood' that often translates into older workers. Retaining a mixture of older and younger workers keeps the balance right and prevents any suspicion of ageism.
For those older workers who do end up redundant, providing tailored advice‚ support and training within the first three months of unemployment will help to increase their chances of finding a new job
Jobcentres in particular must encourage older jobseekers to take up courses that will help them to find work. There are several types of learning programmes designed to brush up existing skills and some lead to nationally recognised qualifications. Often older workers have the necessary skills but not the qualifications to back them up.
It is important to work with a local training company that has an established client base and can deliver training programmes such as Skills for Life in maths and English, IT courses, and also specific management training courses.
But despite the problems facing older workers, in a Survey Report by TAEN and the Employers Forum on Age, it was found that there are an increasing number of employers who value the benefit of experienced workers, and see them as an asset not a liability.
"With an ageing society like ours it is not a question of choice: it is a necessity, and one that has plenty of advantages too." Is Mandatory Retirement Really Helping Business?
There is no doubt, when the economy starts to recover, some organisations will realise they have ‘shot themselves in the foot' by getting rid of older workers, and the ‘dead wood' was not dead after all, but very much alive and kicking....
Written by: M. Jones - Solomon Training Nov 09
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