Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Age discriminationEquality, diversity and inclusionDepartment for Business and Trade (DBT)Latest News

DTI publishes final version of age discrimination regulations

by Mike Berry 9 Mar 2006
by Mike Berry 9 Mar 2006

The long-awaited final measures to outlaw age discrimination in the workplace have been published by the Department of Trade and Industry.


The regulations will provide important new rights and responsibilities for every employee and business in the UK.


Trade and industry secretary, Alan Johnson, said: “Ageism will affect more people, at some stage in their lives, than any other form of discrimination. But until now the law of the land has allowed it to continue.


“With these new regulations it will become illegal for workers to miss out on recruitment, promotion or training because of prejudice about their age”


The regulations will:




  • ban age discrimination in terms of recruitment, promotion and training


  • ban unjustified retirement ages of below 65


  • remove the current age limit for unfair dismissal and redundancy rights.

They will also introduce:




  • a right for employees to request working beyond retirement age and a duty on employers to consider that request


  • a new requirement for employers to give at least six months’ notice to employees about their intended retirement date so that individuals can plan better for retirement, and be confident that ‘retirement’ is not being used as cover for unfair dismissal.

“Ageism hits younger people too, who can find themselves discriminated against in the jobs market,” said Johnson. “For business to thrive in an increasingly competitive market, it must not ignore the skills of any worker, whatever their age. The regulations give younger workers new protection too.”


The regulations include transitional provisions to ensure that employers can manage the process of retirement effectively in the first six months after the regulations coming into force on 1 October.


Manufacturers’ organisation EEF said the government must now mount a major campaign to change society’s attitude about age if the forthcoming legislation is to be successful.


Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

David Yeandle, deputy director of employment policy and a member of the Age Advisory Group that has been advising the government, said: “This is one of the most complex pieces of employment legislation that employers have had to cope with for many years.


“However, while manufacturers support the principle of legislation about age discrimination, the government now has an important responsibility to create a major cultural change in society about attitudes towards age. It should not simply rely on employers to achieve this important objective.”

Mike Berry

previous post
Travis Perkins closes final-salary scheme to new recruits
next post
HR staff would opt for overseas post to boost career

You may also like

Doctors vote for return to strike action

8 Jul 2025

‘Frustrating’ that NHS Plan has overlooked OH, warns...

8 Jul 2025

Employment Rights Bill set to ban employer NDAs

8 Jul 2025

Young people unprepared for world of work, says...

8 Jul 2025

Empower and engage for the future: A revolution...

7 Jul 2025

Bereavement leave to extend to miscarriages before 24...

7 Jul 2025

One in seven ‘revenge quit’ in latest employee...

7 Jul 2025

Skills shortfall in construction threatens housing target

4 Jul 2025

Company director wins £15k after being told to...

4 Jul 2025

MPs demand Home Office tightens visas to protect...

4 Jul 2025

  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+