Employers’ pledge to tackle ageism

The Centre for Ageing Better has launched a pledge for businesses and organisations in response to a new poll revealing the extent of ageism in the workplace.

The non-profit organisation surveyed 2,000 workers aged over 50 and found that nearly half (45%) felt employers viewed them more negatively than younger colleagues or job applicants, while more than a fifth (21%) experienced ageist attitudes at work or when applying for jobs.

More than a third (36%) said they would feel uncomfortable about reporting ageist behaviour, according to the YouGov research, while more than half (58%) thought any complaint would not be taken seriously.

A new Age Friendly Employer Pledge signed by more than 30 organisations commits employers to take one action a year to improve the recruitment, retention and development of older workers. They must also identify a “senior sponsor for age inclusion” within the workplace, and include ageism within their equality and diversity policies.

Workers in their 50s and 60s are key to filling skill gaps and labour shortages, according to the centre’s chief executive, Carole Easton. “Yet older workers are continuing to leave the labour market in droves,” she said. “We want to help businesses understand how they can be attractive employers to older workers and reap the benefits.”