Young people are more likely to feel the effects of age discrimination than their older colleagues, according to new research.
With age discrimination legislation on the horizon, companies are working hard to make sure their policies and regulations don’t breach the new law, with many focusing on the older end of their workforce.
However, new research by insurer Royal & Sun Alliance (R&SA) found one in seven young workers feel their progression has been hindered because of their age, compared to one in 10 people over 45.
The study also shows that more males feel discriminated against than females due to their age. People in the North of England feel they are the greatest victims of age discrimination and those in the Midlands believe they are least affected.
Mike Bird, underwriting manager at R&SA, said, “Many people think that age discrimination only happens to older people, but our research shows that a high number of young people feel their progression has been hindered by their age. We expect there could be a dramatic increase in cases brought against employers for discrimination to mirror the trends in the US and Ireland when the Age Discrimination Act was introduced.”
The introduction of anti-age discrimination legislation in the US resulted in a 40% increase in claims with ageism cases increasing at a quicker rate than any other form of discrimination claim. In Ireland, age is now the basis of 19% of all employment cases.
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