Agency MD Spencer Jacobs, a lifelong age diversity campaigner, believes thousands of people up and down the country are victims of age discrimination in the workplace ñ despite imminent legislation to ban it.
Working with local media groups in both areas, Jacobs is asking people: ìHave you ever missed out on a local job opportunity because of your age? If so we want to hear your storyî
He said: ìOur City branch at Dowgate Hill has been actively campaigning for over a decade for the rights of older workers. The fact is that nearly two million people between 55 and 64 have already lost out to ageism policies and the government itself agrees that one in four people aged 50 to 69 have experienced age discrimination when working or looking for work.
Now we are conducting our own survey to see how many older local people believe they may have suffered from similar discrimination.
We want to hear from anyone with a story to tell.î
The new European Law guarantees older workers basic rights and comes into force later this year but Jacobs believes large numbers of companies are still dragging their heels when it comes to implementation. - And Age Concern calculates that hiring and firing policies cost the UK economy over 31 billion a year.
Jacobs, whose agency has won Government Age Diversity and Age Positive awards, added: ìThe government introduced a voluntary code of practice for employers back in 2000 but it failed because nobody knew about it. There was a total lack of awareness.
The new legislation is at least a step in the right direction although I am still sceptical about how it will be policed.î
Forties People set to conduct its own survey on ageism at work
London and Watford-based recruitment agency Forties People is conducting its own survey on ageism in the workplace
