Age

Employment Equality (Age) Regulations

The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations From 1 October 2006 make it unlawful to discriminate against employees, job seekers and trainees because of their age.

The regulations cover terms and conditions, promotions, transfers, recruitment, dismissals and training.

The national default retirement age will be 65, making compulsory retirement below 65 unlawful unless this can be justified.

Employees will have the right to request to work beyond 65 or any other retirement age set by the company. The Council has a duty to consider such requests. Employees who are subjected to discrimination, harassment or victimisation may be unhappy, less productive and less motivated; resign or make a complaint to a tribunal

The regulations make it unlawful to discriminate both against someone who is older, or younger. Young people are equally covered.

The regulations make it unlawful on the grounds of age to:

Discriminate directly against anyone - To treat anyone less favourably than others because of their age unless objectively justified.
Discriminate indirectly against anyone - To apply criterion, provision or practice which disadvantages people of a particular age unless it can be objectively justified.
Subject someone to harassment. Harassment is unwanted conduct that violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them having regard to all the circumstances including the perception of the victim.
Victimise someone because they have made or intend to make a complaint or allegation or have given or intend to give evidence in relation to a complaint of discrimination on the grounds of age.
Discriminate against someone, in certain circumstances, after the employment relationship has ended.

Service Delivery

The council has a commitment to meet the needs of all residents, businesses and visitors whatever their age. This is reflected in service plans, including the Community Plan

50+ Forum

Torbay Council have set up and are supporting a 50+ Forum who meet on a regular basis. These meetings give people the opportunity to raise any issues and concerns they have with living in Torbay. Comments are then fed back to the relevant agencies and departments in order to improve services. Speakers also regularly attend these meetings and so far the group have had visits from amongst others Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue on home safety, Safer Communities, Age Concern, Stagecoach and Recycling.

These meetings have proved to be a valuable way to get information out to the community and to make them aware of events and changes that are happening in Torbay.