Small firms remain ignorant of new age discrimination law

A survey by the Employers' Forum on Age (EFA) and the British Chambers of Commerce have found that just a quarter of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are aware of new laws on age discrimination.

While almost two-thirds (63%) of SMEs said they knew that new employment laws take effect in October, fewer than one in four knew that these will cover age discrimination. And the survey also found that:

* fewer than one-fifth (18%) of SMEs felt that the government has provided adequate guidance on the impact of the regulations;

* barely a third (35%) knew that the default retirement age will be 65, although most (65%) knew that employees can ask to work beyond the age of 65; and

* only 5% had seen information packs about the regulations, which the government claims to have sent to every organisation in the UK.

EFA director Sam Mercer expressed "deep concern" at the findings, and warned that ignoring the new law "could lead to a huge increase in discrimination claims".