The government is planning to scrap the default retirement age in the UK from October 2011. Under the proposal, employers would not be allowed to dismiss staff because they had reached the age of 65. Activists, who have long campaigned against the rule, welcomed the proposal as a “victory” against ageism. Currently, an employer can…

Forty-five current and retired FBI agents sued the Bureau for alleged age discrimination. The lawsuit, filed this month in D.C. federal court, claims an FBI policy that limits the term limit of field office squad supervisors to five years is aimed at removing supervisors over 40 years old. After five years, these supervisors had three…

One in four young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) has contemplated suicide, an alarming report has found. A study by online mentoring service FutureYou found that 69 per cent believe their talent is being thrown away. In addition, one in five (22 per cent) admitted to abusing alcohol with 13 per cent…

Insurance company SunLife has published the results of research into age discrimination in the UK. Age discrimination in the workplace Four in ten people said that, since turning 50, they had experienced age discrimination. Hiring was the most common area where people believed they had experienced it, with 62% believing they had missed out on…

Allegations of age discrimination brought by senior civil servants have cost the taxpayer nearly £70,000 even though the tribunal they launched to take up their case was abandoned. Fiona Hamill, Treasury officer of accounts and Michael Brennan, an economist in the central expenditure within the Department of Finance and Personnel alleged “indirect age discrimination” against…

Given he still presents a hit radio show at 90, he can certainly congratulate himself on his own longevity. And according to Nicholas Parsons, women have no reason to complain about ageism either. The veteran host has denied women struggle to stay on air as they get older, and points to the popularity of Great…

Gurkha veterans have lost the latest round of their legal battle with the Ministry of Defence over their Army pensions. A test case which would have affected about 25,000 veterans who retired before July 1, 1997 was dismissed at the High Court earlier this year. The British Gurkha Welfare Society then took its case on…

The survey from workplace pension provider NOW: Pensions showed that over one third, or 35pc, of Britons were not contributing to any kind of savings plan. This meant that people were turning to other options in order to supplement their income, or giving up on retirement altogether. One in three, or 31pc, don’t plan to…

A Church of Ireland rector has withdrawn an industrial tribunal claim alleging age discrimination, the day before the hearing was due to start. The Reverend John Hemphill has been suspended from his ministry in Ballyhalbert, County Down, since 2009. A formal complaint against him was made by the Archdeacon of Down to the Church of…

Viewing entries in The Guardian Human Rights Commission report found ‘a third of people who had experienced age discrimination gave up looking for work as a result’ Article from the Guardian argues that social attitudes and legal protection lag behind the changing demographics and our ageing population. Is it time for international action on age…