Only
one in four employers has adopted the code of practice on age diversity in
employment in the two years since its launch.
The
research, released exclusively to Personnel Today, shows that only half of the respondents
have put in place, or are planning to implement, policies and practices
specifically aimed at recruiting and retaining older workers.
The
Government has failed to communicate the business implications of demographic
change, claims the research, which was jointly produced by IRS Management
Review and Employers.
Sam
Mercer, campaign director of the Employers Forum on Age, said, “Businesses
failing to stamp out age discrimination not only face a legal backlash, but
also risk losing their competitive edge.”
Employing
Older Workers surveyed 105 organisations covering more than 1.25 million staff.
The
Government’s own evaluation of the code of practice’s effectiveness was also
published last week confirms that only 37 per cent of employers were aware of
the code.
The
CIPD and DfEE last week launched a joint series of Age Positive initiatives to
tackle discrimination. The DfEE is also sponsoring an Age Positive at Work
Award in the Personnel Today Awards 2001.
