Labour Research November 2002

Features: Law matters

Redundancy rights for over-65s

An employment tribunal has ruled that men aged over 65 can pursue claims for redundancy and unfair dismissal. Two former clothing workers were dismissed from their jobs for being over 65, but, until this ruling, were not allowed to bring their cases to an employment tribunal. The tribunal ruled that excluding employees over 65 from taking complaints of redundancy or unfair dismissal amounts to indirect sex discrimination against men, contrary to European law. As there are far more men who continue working over the age of 65 than women, the cut-off point at 65 years discriminates against men. The government is appealing against the ruling.