Age Discrimination: Law-Making Possibilities Explored

Abstract

Is there a sound model for the United Kingdom (UK) to adopt should it decide to legislate against age discrimination in employment? In this article the writer attempts to answer this question first, by outlining existing UK sex and race discrimination laws and then progressing to an examination of long-standing American legislation and caselaw in this area. Finally, it explores the Irish Employment Equality Act, 1998, a composite and comprehensive act which prohibits discrimination in employment based on ‘age’ and eight other grounds. The strengths and weaknesses of each of these laws are examined in turn and measured against each other. The final analysis would suggest that each of these models can usefully inform any future law-making process to a greater or lesser degree and that good practice and legislation can co-exist in harmony. Moreover, the present lack of legislation in the UK against age discrimination in any area but especially employment, is remarkable when compared with British laws on sex and race discrimination and is ultimately unwise in the face of the real need for remedies and, the present and growing expansion in numbers of that portion of the population and the working population which British and European society call ‘old.’