|
answer text |
<p>The Equality Act 2010, provides strong protection against direct and indirect age
discrimination in employment and makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate
against an employee or a job applicant because of their age, unless the employer can
justify it as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.</p><p> </p><p>Government
has put in place a number of measures to support people of all ages to enter and remain
in a workplace.</p><p> </p><p>We have taken steps to support younger workers by introducing
the Youth Obligation Support Programme, an intensive package of labour market support
for 18-21 year-olds looking to get (back) into work. We are committed to providing
targeted support for young people, so that everyone, no matter what their start in
life, is given the very best chance of getting into work. In April 2019, Mentoring
circles were rolled out nationally, which involve national employers offering specialised
support to unemployed, young jobseekers to help build their confidence and raise their
aspirations.</p><p>To support older workers to remain in or return to the labour market,
the Government has removed the Default Retirement Age meaning most people can choose
when to retire, and extended the right to request flexible working to all employees
with 26 weeks’ continuous service with their employer.</p><p>In February 2017, the
UK Government published “Fuller Working Lives: a partnership approach” to set out
the role employers, individuals and Government can play in supporting fuller working
lives. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587654/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587654/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach.pdf</a></p><p>The
Government has also appointed the Business In The Community (BITC) Age at Work leadership
team as Business Champion for Older Workers. The BITC team of employers spearhead
the Government’s work to support employers to retain, retrain and recruit older workers.
They actively promote the benefits of older workers to employers across England.</p><p>The
number of older workers in employment is at a record high. There are now 10.4 million
people aged 50 and over in the workforce.</p>
|
|