Much of industry is failing to recognise that forthcoming Age Discrimination laws are designed to protect younger as well as older workers, South Wales business people heard.


 

Stephen Jackson, employment law partner with leading solicitors Harding Evans, told a special conference on the issue that vast majority of employers with whom he has discussed the legislation assumed the law related only to older staff. He said: “Younger workers who feel they have been treated unfairly on the grounds of age will have just as much recourse to employment tribunals as their more senior colleagues.”

His comments came at an event organised jointly between Harding Evans and Newport and Gwent Enterprise at the Celtic Manor Golf Clubhouse. Mr Jackson pointed to the widespread negative reaction which followed the recent appointment of a 19-year old law student as Britain’s youngest magistrate.

He added: “Many people objected on the grounds that the successful candidate couldn’t possibly have the skills or experience to perform the role at such a young age.”