Complacency over age is criticised

Parliament’s Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) said responses from the government and the EHRC equality watchdog to its report on older people and employment were “disappointing”.


The WEC’s report into age discrimination and employment, Older people and employment, published in July, said that the talents of more than a million over-50s were being wasted because of age bias and outdated employment practices.


Its report concluded that the government and the EHRC were failing to enforce the law on age discrimination and must be clearer that prejudice, unconscious bias and casual ageism in the workplace are all unlawful under the Equality Act 2010.


In October, the committee said that the responses from both organisations to its Older people report were mixed. While the government did not specifically reject any recommendations, it did not fully accept any. And those actions to which it did commit lack detail and timeframes. 


Meanwhile, the WEC said, the response from the EHRC rejects the recommendation to develop enforcement action on age bias in recruitment on the basis that the EHRC is in the process of setting its strategic priorities and consulting on a draft strategic plan.


The WEC has decided that it will follow up the EHRC’s response as part of its new inquiry into the enforcement of the Equality Act and is likely to hold a separate one-off session with the government, details of which will be confirmed in due course.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/news-parliament-2017/older-people-employment-government-response-17-19

https://www.parliament.uk/OlderPeopleEmployment