The latest UK and international age discrimination news from around the web.
More than 2,000 of the country's most experienced police officers could be forced to retire by 2015 as forces try to cut costs, according to Labour. Shadow Home Sceretary Yvette Cooper claims the government is taking unacceptable risks with public safety.
Their justification relates to academic and financial planning, maintaining opportunities for career progression, promoting diversity in the workforce, and avoiding invidious performance management processes.
The Tel Aviv District Labor Court last week ordered IBM Israel Ltd. to pay a fired 62-year old employee NIS 192,000 in compensation, after ruling that he had been fired because of age discrimination.
In October last year, the government announced the SPA would rise to 66 by 2020, accelerating the pace of change advocated by the Labour government, which planned to raise the SPA to 66 by 2026. However, the OECD says the reform does not go far enough.
3M Co. (MMM), the maker of products including Scotch tape and Post-it Notes, agreed to pay as much as $12 million to settle the long-running age discrimination class-action.
The Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow, said: "Our population is ageing as more of us live longer - and there can be no place for age discrimination in the NHS. Eliminating inequalities in access to surgery is vital if we are to improve survival rates".
With the Chancellor George Osbourne due to unveil the budget next week, Age UK have released a number of proposals which they want included and which will promote age equality and reduce age discrimination in society.
Statistics show life expectancy in the UK is on the rise, along with the rest of Europe, despite fears over the impact of obesity, population expert Professor David Leon has said.
His legal team, headed by top QC Paul Gilroy, argues his ‘distinguished and lifelong career’ in the NHS was brought to an end when it was for reasons of ‘cost alone’ which could not justify age discrimination.
"We could soon see the beginning of a new age for older people, as the government launches a consultation on how to bring age discrimination legislation into force" according to Age UK head Marlene Mitchell.
New research commissioned by Age UK reveals that age is the most widely experienced form of discrimination in Europe. Statistics show 64% of those interviewed in the UK and 44.4% across Europe judge age discrimination as a serious problem.
The Government must address business concerns that new retirement rules coming into effect next month will lead to a surge in age discrimination claims, the Confederation of British Industry has warned.
Liberal Democrat MP, Greg Mulholland, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ageing and Older People and former Liberal Democrat spokesman for Older People has welcomed the launch of a consultation by the Equalities Office.
BIBA has welcomed the age discrimination in goods and services consultation paper from the Government Equalities Office that proposes ‘signposting’ of insurance products for older customers.
The Equality Act 2010, which received Royal Assent in April 2010, includes provisions enabling a ban on age discrimination in the provision of services and public functions. The Government has opened consultation on a number of proposed exceptions.
The government is proposing to make it illegal to discriminate against older people, which would ban insurers using age to judge risk unless they have "solid evidence" it would make a difference.
The NHS must never commit age discrimination – that was the message given by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow today as he announced that the Department of Health will not be seeking any exceptions to the planned implementation of the Equality Act 2010.
A suspended Church of Ireland rector is taking his local bishop to court on the grounds of age discrimination.
New statistics show that the number of over-65s still in work has doubled in the past decade. The increase in older workers was hailed as a victory against age discrimination, but unions warned that older employees could suffer workplace injuries.
The newsreader tells Benji Wilson about age discrimination and ageism, women in TV – and an arduous trip for Comic Relief.
