High-profile age discrimination cases like that of Selina Scott will encourage more employees to take claims to court, experts have warned.
Following the news that TV presenter Scott reached a settlement with Channel Five after launching legal action for age discrimination, the Employers Forum on Age (EFA) has urged employers to prepare for a surge in claims.
Catharine Pusey, director of the EFA, said: “High profile cases like that of Selina Scott will make even more people realise that they should not be judged on their age, but on their skills and suitability for the role. As things currently stand, we agree with the predictions from lawyers that the number of claims will continue to rise steeply over the next few years.”
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Scott, 57, alleged she was discounted from covering colleague Natasha Kaplinsky’s maternity leave for being “too old”. The case was settled out of court, reportedly earning Scott £250,000.
Pusey said: “Employers cannot afford to bury their heads in the sand hoping this issue will just go away. They really must ensure they comply with the 2006 regulations not only to avoid costly tribunals but also to harness the business advantages of an age diverse workforce.”
