WEC (Women and Equalities Committee) warns that ageism is a problem in the UK. This includes the workplace.
A new report urges stronger protections from age discrimination, and an integrated strategy across the Government to deal with the challenges posed by an ageing population. The report expresses concern that current laws, such as the Public Sector Equality Duty(PSED), fail to protect older people and are rarely enforced.
These stereotypes contribute to a culture of ageism that harms individuals and fuels generational division. These stereotypes fuel a culture that is ageist and causes generational division.
Age discrimination is a problem in all aspects of life, including the workplace. In a recent survey conducted by the Centre for Ageing Better as part of the Age Without Limits Campaign, one-quarter of respondents (24%) believed that it was not advisable to hire someone older than 50 due to the perception of slow work and decreased adaptability. In-job training is seen by more than one fifth (22%) as a waste, since older workers are not likely to stay in their jobs for long.
The WEC recommends the UK Government study the approach taken by Wales, where there is a Commissioner for Older People as well as a network Older People’s Champions in local authorities. This framework supports an age-related national strategy, and the report suggests England could benefit by a similar system.
Demographic Changes and Legal Reforms
WEC claims that with 11 million older people living in England and Wales, and more than half of them over 90 years old, the UK’s equality framework does not place enough emphasis on demographic changes. The report urges the Cabinet Office, within the Office of Equality and Opportunity, to create a dedicated unit to analyze data on the key challenges facing older people.
Sarah Owen, Labour MP and Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, stated, “The Committee report shows that age discrimination in the UK is widespread and often minimized when compared with other forms of racism.
A comprehensive review of the age discrimination laws is necessary to combat the pervasive ageist culture in Britain. The UK’s ageing population is growing and becoming more diverse, presenting significant challenges and opportunities across departments.
The Committee recommends also that the Government commission and finance the Equality and Human Rights Commission to examine the effectiveness of the protections against discrimination based on age. This review should examine the impact of allowing direct age discrimination to be justified objectively, the PSED’s adequacy, and if employers should have stronger obligations to prevent age-discrimination.
Digital Exclusion and Regulatory Reforms
The report is concerned about digital exclusion in certain areas, such as banking, healthcare, local government, and benefits. The report states that older people are at a high risk of being denied essential services because they rely more on digital platforms.
A refreshed Digital Inclusion Strategy has never been more necessary. Technology is now the standard for many public services. Owen said that it is a failure on the part of government to not have updated or tracked progress in the Digital Inclusion Strategy for over a decade.
She said that ageism was a problem in all areas of society, including healthcare, banking, and transportation.
