Scale of ageism in workplace 'alarming' and 'unacceptable'

Age discrimination in the workplace is a “serious problem”, with MPs calling it “alarming” and “totally unacceptable”.

A report on older people and employment by The Women and Equalities Committee found the talents of over a million people over the age of 50 are being wasted due to discrimination, bias and outdated employment practices.

The report called for the government and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to enforce the law on age discrimination and make it clearer that prejudice, unconscious bias and casual ageism in the workplace are all unlawful under the Equality Act 2010.

The government must work with the EHRC to agree specific enforcement actions, added the report.

Maria Miller, chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, said: “Age discrimination in the workplace is a serious problem, as many older people have discovered.

“Yet despite it being unlawful for more than a decade, the scale and lack of enforcement uncovered by our inquiry is both alarming and totally unacceptable. The Government and the EHRC have failed to get to grips with this. They must be more robust in providing a remedy to potentially unlawful working practices in the recruitment sector.”

The report found strategies such as Fuller Working Lives and the Industrial Strategy are not coordinated and lack any plan to ensure that existing legislation is being implemented and enforced. Ms Miller added: “As a country we face serious challenges recruiting and retaining an experienced and skilled workforce.

“The business case for an age-diverse workforce is clear. Despite this, employers continue to organise workplaces around an outdated, inflexible model that this inquiry and our past inquiries into fathers in the workplace and the gender pay gap show no longer works.

“It's time for a mandatory approach, with flexible working being the default from the time jobs are advertised onwards.”

The report highlights that many older workers often take on a range of caring responsibilities so the government should therefore introduce a statutory entitlement to five days’ paid carer’s leave, and a longer period of unpaid leave, to help stop those caring for a loved one falling out of the labour market unnecessarily.

Dr Brian Beach, senior research fellow at ILC-UK and who gave oral evidence to the Committee, welcomed its call for stronger action by government and EHRC and said it is crucial employers understand what ageism really is. He said: “Tackling ageism in the labour market and promoting age-friendly employment standards are vital steps to ensure that older people have the opportunities they want to work in later life. We support the committee’s call for stronger, clearer action by government and EHRC to address this issue.

“However the role of employers remains crucial, and part of the problem stems from a lack of awareness of what ageism really is. Our report ‘Exploring Retirement Transitions’ highlighted that employers are aware of age discrimination legislation, yet some line managers are scared to talk to people about their retirement plans for fear of being accused of ageism - which is unhelpful for both employer and employee.

"Older people are not a homogeneous group, and the Committee are right to call for the government to commission research into the diversity among older people and their access to work opportunities. We are ready to work with other stakeholders to develop this evidence base.”