Age discrimination at work can be a difficult situation to deal with, no matter the circumstances.
Age discrimination in the workplace is something that you are protected against by law, but age discrimination can actually occur in a wide variety of places.
Age discrimination is protected by law under the Equality Act 2010 and is one of several protected characteristics.
To be connected to a specialist discrimination solicitor near to where you live or work, please either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry.
What is Age Discrimination In The Workplace?
Age discrimination in the workplace is when you’re treated differently because of your age.
It might be that you’re older and you’re not afforded the same opportunities as younger employees because you’re seen as being closer to retirement, for example.
The Equality Act 2010 is a law which protects you from age discrimination. It means that you cannot be discriminated against or treated unfairly based on of characteristics such as age, as well as other things such as religious beliefs and sexual orientation.
The protected characteristics include;
- Age
- Race
- Gender reassignment
- Being married or in a civil partnership
- Sex
- Religion or belief
- Being pregnant or on maternity leave
- Sexual orientation
Examples Of Age Discrimination At Work
You might think that age discrimination only happens to older people and is often associated with retirement age – but that’s not necessarily the case.
Age groups are often used in certain scenarios and one situation that might occur is someone who is 75 could be refused entry to the gym, which would be unlawful.
It might also be that someone who is 25 is looked over for a promotion despite having more relevant experience and being more qualified than someone who is 40, purely based on their age.
There are a wide variety of ways in which age discrimination can occur and the central theme is that age is the basis for the decision.
There is also the reality that older people are much more likely to be selected for redundancy, despite this being age discrimination. If you think this is a situation that is relevant, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible whether it’s through the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, a union representative, or an employment solicitor.
The Age Discrimination Act
Ageism in the workplace and outside of the workplace has been illegal in the UK since 2006, and age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.
If you feel you’ve been discriminated against because of your age, you should speak to a legal expert. At Solicitors Near Me, we understand that if you’ve experienced discrimination, it can be a stressful and unpleasant experience.
That’s why we’re here to help you find the legal support and advice you need.
Direct Age Discrimination
There are many different types of age discrimination, including direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, victimisation, harassment, and discrimination by association.
Direct discrimination is when you’re treated unfairly or negatively because of your age, which might mean you’ve been refused a gym membership, overlooked for a promotion, or made redundant because of your age.
Ageism in the workplace and outside of the workplace has been illegal in the UK since 2006, and age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.
If you feel you’ve been discriminated against because of your age, you should speak to a legal expert. At Solicitors Near Me, we understand that if you’ve experienced discrimination, it can be a stressful and unpleasant experience.
That’s why we’re here to help you find the legal support and advice you need.
Indirect Age Discrimination
Indirect discrimination is where the criteria of something has a discriminatory effect on you because of your age. A good example is payment via instalments only being offered to those who are working, which would discriminate against those who are retired.
Victimisation is when you’re treated unfairly because you’ve made a complaint or raised a grievance about discrimination, or even if you’ve given evidence when someone else has made a complaint.
While harassment is when you feel that a hostile environment has been created because of the behaviour that someone else has shown. It might make you feel intimidated, humiliated, or even degraded. Perhaps someone keeps making jokes about your age or repeatedly directs abuse about the age of your partner or a loved one towards you.
Compensation For Age Discrimination In The Workplace
The compensation for age discrimination will depend on several factors.
When you speak to a legal expert, they’ll be able to help you work out how much compensation you’re entitled to.
It will depend on the money you’ve lost out on because of the discrimination, the calculation for any hurt or distress caused, and personal injury (physical and mental) and if there’s any ‘aggravated damages’.
At Solicitors Near Me, we want to simplify the legal part of the process as much as we can by connecting you with an expert employment discrimination solicitor near you for FREE so that you can get the help and advice you need.
You’re under no obligation to press ahead with the solicitor we connect you with and until you decide to proceed, everything is completely FREE.
Discrimination Solicitors Near Me
To be connected to a specialist discrimination solicitor near to where you live or work, please either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry.
