The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 come into force on 1 October 2006. The aim of the regulations is to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of age, which is the most widespread form of discrimination in the workplace. For the first time there will be a default retirement age of 65 and employers will not be able to retire employees before that age unless it can be objectively justified. Employers must give employees at least 6 months' notice of the intended retirement date, and also consider requests from employees to continue working beyond the age of 65. Age discrimination in recruitment, promotion and training will be outlawed and the upper age limit for unfair dismissal claims will be removed.

This practical guide to the new law will explain the regulations in detail and will provide answers to key questions and discuss major issues including:

• What age discrimination means
• How it affects employers and employees
• Fair dismissal for retirement
• Age discrimination and education
• How the new law affects pensions
• Rights and remedies under the regulations

Age discrimination: The New Law is essential reading for all employment lawyers and advisers and human resource professionals.

Simon Cheetham, Barrister, Ely Place Chambers
Esther White, Partner, Eversheds LLP

• The European and domestic background to the Regulations
• The concept of age discrimination
• Discrimination in employment
• Retirement and dismissal
• Pay and non-pay benefits
• Education and vocational training
• Pensions
• Liabilities and remedies 

Appendices

• The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006
• ACAS: A Guide for Employers

"a welcome addition to my bookshelf ... There is ... something about this publication which makes me want to recommend it instead of others I have reviewed ... very readable, the content is comprehensive and competently researched and put together ... its organisation intuitive and helpful, its content interesting, informative and accessible and ... most imporantly ... aims to be a practical guide ... a really useful signpost round the complexities of the Regulations."
International Journal of Law and Management

"invaluable for those trying to decipher the complex and sometimes incomprehensible wording of the Regulations ... contains a good analysis of the law, being clear and comprehensive, with useful references to existing principles of discrimination legislation ... the legal analysis is excellent and it will undoubtedly be a guide that they dip in and out of to clarify various sections of the Regulations as required ... it will certainly become a staple desktop resource"
Employment Law Journal