Extending Working Life for Older Workers: Age Discrimination Law, Policy and Practice

The UK population is ageing rapidly, and age discrimination laws are seen as having broad potential to address this challenge. This monograph investigates how UK age discrimination laws are operating in practice and how they could be improved. It employs a reflexive law theoretical standpoint and a mixed methods research design to explore these issues. The book demonstrates the substantial limitations of the Equality Act 2010 for achieving instrumental and intrinsic objectives, and proposes targeted legal and policy changes to address demographic change. It also offers an agenda for reform that may increase the impact of age discrimination laws and enable them to respond effectively to demographic ageing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The United Kingdom (UK) population is experiencing a significant aging trend, presenting a complex challenge that requires comprehensive attention. While age discrimination laws are recognized as having the potential to address the challenges posed by an aging workforce and achieve various instrumental and intrinsic objectives in the context of employment, their practical impact remains unclear. This monograph aims to address two overarching research questions in the employment field: Firstly, how are UK age discrimination laws operating in practice? Secondly, how (if at all) could UK age discrimination laws be improved? To explore these issues, a reflexive law theoretical standpoint is employed, utilizing a mixed methods research design that incorporates qualitative, quantitative, doctrinal, and comparative elements. This book serves as a valuable contribution to the literature, shedding light on the limitations of the Equality Act 2010 (UK) in achieving instrumental and intrinsic objectives related to age discrimination. Through a comprehensive analysis of qualitative expert interviews, statistical analysis, and organizational case studies, the book illustrates the failure of age discrimination laws to foster attitudinal change in the UK. Moreover, it reveals the limited prevalence of proactive measures to support older workers. By integrating doctrinal analysis, comparative analysis of Finnish law, and the Delphi method, the book proposes targeted legal and policy changes to address demographic change. It also offers an agenda for reform that aims to enhance the impact of age discrimination laws and enable them to respond effectively to the demographic aging phenomenon.

This monograph is a runner-up for the 2017 SLS Peter Birks Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship, and the author was also awarded the 2020 ISA-RCSL Adam Podgórecki Junior Prize. The insights and recommendations provided in this book are of utmost importance for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars interested in addressing the challenges posed by an aging workforce and promoting inclusive and equitable employment practices.

Weight: 392g
Dimension: 233 x 155 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509927883