New age discrimination laws for employers will soon be inforced

25 August 2006:

Fewer than one in four small- and medium-sized employers in the UK are aware of the forthcoming age discrimination legislation, reveals a study by the Employers' Forum on Age and British Chambers of Commerce.

Whilst 63% of employers know that new laws are coming into force in October, less than one in four know that these include age discrimination regulations. Just 35% of the 250 businesses surveyed know that the default retirement age would be 65, although 65% know that employees can request to work beyond the age of 65.

The research also shows that only 18% of small- and medium-sized employers feel that the government has provided adequate and timely guidance to help smaller employers digest the impact of new employment regulations on their businesses.

The DTI has also today published the official age discrimination questionnaire that employees will have to use if they want to bring a claim against a business. The questionnaire also features a section for respondents to claims.

For further information:

Web:www.dti.gov.uk